Lima 2016

Adam Caldwell, a 20th-century artist, painted "Lima" with visible brushstrokes in an expressive manner. I imagine Caldwell building up the image layer by layer, adding and subtracting until the figure emerged. I sympathize with Caldwell, feeling the painting shift under his hands, as he tries to bring this person into being on the canvas. The paint is applied in both thin washes and thicker impasto, creating a dynamic surface. Note the drips of paint that streak down the face, obscuring and revealing at once. It's like a mask, or a veil, suggesting hidden emotions or a fragmented identity. The areas of flat blue add an element of abstraction and mystery. It makes me think of other painters who have explored the human condition through portraiture, like Francis Bacon or Jenny Saville, but with its own distinctive voice. Caldwell seems to be in conversation with these artists. It's a reminder that painting is an ongoing dialogue across time.