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Artist:

n a world of too many saccharine and clichéd children's portraits, this brilliant performance stands out. Everything here breaks the norm. This is above all a painting — the artist's direct and searching brushwork digs in immediately for the essential character of the young subject. The pose and the composition are highly unconventional. Squarish brushstrokes define face and hands in a strong, architectural manner. The principal light is that reflected from the white shirt; cool reflected lights flicker over face and hands.

The freedom and animation of the brushwork brings the painting to life. There are numerous noteworthy passages: the abstract shapes of the background are more effective than would be a naturalistic treatment of the foliage; the lichen growth on the tree trunk provides a rugged counterpoint to the beautiful face; and my favorite — the staccato diagonal brushstrokes at lower right, which begin on the tree trunk and punctuate the lower shirt, creating both unity and vitality.

This is real painting by an artist who is thinking painting rather than conventional professional child portraiture, which tends too frequently to a safe, cautious normalcy. J.H.S.