Gallery Director

When was the last time you walked into a gallery and the walls were staring at you? Ah, the title of this exhibit.

Before the invention of photography, a painted, sculpted, or drawn portrait was the only way to record the appearance of someone. But no less an institution as the Tate Art Gallery, London, reminds us that portraits have always been more than just a record. They have been used to show the power, importance, virtue, beauty, wealth, taste, learning or other qualities of the sitter. Portraits have almost always been flattering, and painters who refused to flatter (I'm thinking of 18th century William Hogarth) found their work rejected. A notable exception was Francisco Goya who could be bluntly truthful about the Spanish King and Queen yet still find favor.

Generally in the modern period, commissioned portraits have become increasingly rare. But portraits in general have not. Only the reliance on commissions has. Instead artists paint their friends and lovers in whatever way they please. In the 21st century we see video and digital portraits (selfies come to mind) as a popular alternative to the traditional drawing or painting. So portrait painting continues to flourish.

Are these portraits of interest to you? If the picture is of your Mom or Sister or best friend, you'd answer in the affirmative. But what about these portraits. Since you don't know the person, then the artist has to create enough humanity in his charcoal study or in her oils on canvas. These people are larger than life but do they attract life? And how do we see these images? Contrast of color, soft lines, hard contour lines, broad spaces - these are al compositional elements. But when all the art marks come together, we get a sense of personality within the person.

In the Bisignano Art Gallery, we're looking at them. Or at least I think so. Or are they all looking at us?

Alan Garfield

Here's Looking at You Poster