Moment 2021

Vincent Xeus made this painting, ‘Moment’, at an unknown date, using oil paint on what looks like a wooden panel. I love how the image almost shimmers, a quality the artist achieves by applying thin layers of semi-transparent paint in horizontal strokes. Up close, you can see the wood grain peeking through. The effect is something like a blurry photograph, a fleeting impression of light and form. The muted palette of pinks, greens, and grays enhances this dreamlike quality. Look at how the flowers in the foreground are both present and dissolving into the background. It’s as if Xeus is reminding us that everything is in flux, always changing. There’s something about this piece that reminds me of Gerhard Richter’s blurred portraits, but with an added touch of tenderness. Both artists embrace the ambiguity of the image, inviting us to question the nature of seeing itself.