What Will It Be 

Editor: This oil painting, titled "What Will It Be" by Jeff Jamison, captures a bartender in a warmly lit setting. I find the scene very inviting, almost cinematic. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It's interesting to consider how this painterly style, with its roots in expressionism and figurative work, interacts with the setting. We have a contemporary artist engaging with genre painting, portraying a figure that is both ordinary and monumentalized, set inside a very coded and socially active site, namely the bar. Editor: Coded how? Curator: The bar isn’t just a place to grab a drink. It has a history – think about how bars and taverns have historically served as hubs for political discourse, social exchange, even artistic inspiration. How might this context change how we perceive this image? Editor: So, by setting the portrait in a bar, Jamison's placing this figure within a long, complex narrative about social spaces and their role in public life? That’s fascinating! The light and painterly quality create such a comfortable feel, but with that additional context, it does encourage deeper thought. Curator: Exactly. It challenges the perception of portraiture itself. The seemingly mundane scene reflects ongoing historical narratives and prompts conversations about the portrayal of working-class individuals in art, how the space is used and consumed, and the politics behind the act of painting itself. Editor: I hadn’t considered that this could challenge traditional portraiture. Thanks; this insight helps me understand how this painterly image connects to a wider social and historical perspective!