To A Year of Moderate Light
Some friends have commented on how different this year’s self portrait — the newest piece in the series Self Portrait for a New Year – looks to them.
Self Portrait for a New Year, 2020, 19 X 15 cm/7.5″ X 6″
At first glance the smile stands out versus previous years’ serious faces. I would like to point out a different aspect, that of the lighting in the painting, which combined with the smile lends a different air to the painting. Instead of the sharp contrasts between light and shade in many of the earlier works, here there is bright but gentle light illuminating the entire face, with more subtle distinctions and shadows.
Self-Portrait for a New Year, 2013, oil on canvas, 27 x 20 cm10.5″ X 8″
Self-Portrait for a New Year, 2017, oil on canvas, 27 X 16 cm/10.5″ X 6″*
Indeed I do often seek out extreme lighting, not only in self portraits but in landscape painting and figure drawing as well.
Untitled, 2016, oil on canvas, 15 X 60 cm/6″ X 23/5″
Mor, 2013, charcoal on paper, 50 X 70 cm/19.5″ X 27.5″
It seems that this year’s self portrait suggests another route, one that finds drama in the mid-day light. If the coming year brings with it extraordinary experiences I will embrace them — as I will probably continue to pursue strong contrasts — but I also wish for days in which moderate and even lighting will feel anything but boring.
*This painting will be on view in the upcoming group exhbition on contemporary portraiture “Salon of Painting” at Hacubia Gallery for Contemporary Art, part of the Manofim Jerusalem Contemporary Art Festival, to open on October 29 (or after the lockdown ends).