Rest 2013

Here is “Rest,” an oil painting by Jose Higuera, of a boy reclining in his leisure. The artist has applied the paint in loose and gestural brushstrokes, giving the composition a lively and energetic feel. It makes me think that the canvas must have been a site of dynamic activity, where forms emerged through trial, error, and intuition. I can almost sympathize with Higuera, imagining him balancing the soft, vulnerable repose with the vibrancy of life and play. The paint is lush and juicy, especially in the thick whites and blues in the foreground. The contrast is a kind of invitation to slow down and see the world through the fresh eyes of youth. Looking at it, I wonder if it is a nod to other figurative painters who find the extraordinary in the everyday. Artists are in an ongoing dialogue, riffing off each other’s approaches to form and feeling. Painting is this embodied dance with uncertainty, and it is always up for interpretation.