For the Lady 1971

Nathan Oliveira made this artwork, called ‘For The Lady’, by sweeping dark, inky marks across the paper. I wonder what it was like for him, standing there, brush in hand, deciding where to make that first mark. The bottom of the piece feels like a landscape – or maybe a horizon line – and then, shapes start to emerge from the darkness. When you look at Oliveira's work, you realize he's constantly playing with the figure-ground relationship; the forms aren't quite defined. It reminds me of Goya's darker prints, where everything seems to be emerging from the shadows, and the gestures are so free and expressive. It's like he's conjuring up a mood, an atmosphere, rather than trying to depict something specific. Artists are always looking at each other, borrowing, and riffing off of each other, even across centuries. It’s a continuous exchange of ideas, pushing painting forward while still being rooted in its history.