Casein, 1986

Dimensions: 20” x 23”

The lines of perspective, rather than receding, tend to thrust the figure forward, almost pinning him between the corner of the building and the front plane of the picture. A lack of sharp value contrast and the cool palette establish a mood of quiet despair, and the chiseled stone building, with its smooth engraving reminiscent of a tombstone, describes a harsh reality. Yet the painting does not stop there. By confronting the viewer with a steady gaze that will not be averted this young man challenges both the imposed limits of his world and the probabilities of his future.