Hercules and the Wild Boar 1989

This painting, Hercules and the Wild Boar, was made by Boris Vallejo. I can't tell you exactly when or with what, but it's a classical scene of superhuman strength rendered in a high-fantasy aesthetic. The painting is all about the figure, and the texture of his musculature. Look at the way that each muscle is built up with layers of glazes. It's easy to see each brushstroke as Vallejo slowly builds up the figures volume. Notice how the mountain behind is a flatter application of paint, it doesn't have the same texture. When I look at this work I see it in dialogue with the historical painting of classical figures and myths, like the work of Peter Paul Rubens. It’s as if Vallejo is asking us: what would it look like to paint like that now? It embraces ambiguity and leaves itself open to multiple interpretations.