Midnight Rider 

Jeff Jamison painted ‘Midnight Rider’ using oils to depict a familiar urban scene, yet its power lies in its formal properties. The horizontal composition is neatly divided into three bands of space. Our eyes are drawn to the warm earthy browns of the central zone which features the windows that punctuate the architectural facade. Notice how the windows act as frames within the frame, each one subtly different from the last. The figures are rendered in dark, gestural brushstrokes; their anonymity heightens the feeling of urban isolation. This work destabilizes fixed meanings, inviting us to question the very act of perception. The loose brushwork and muted palette combine to create a mood that hovers between melancholic and contemplative. Jamison does not seek to represent reality but to capture a felt sense of the urban experience. Through the formal qualities of painting, he challenges us to engage with space, perception, and representation.