Oh Alex, this is just so beautiful.
I love the skintones. Actually there's not a single thing in this work that I don't love.
Sargent's girls come to mind immediately, for the light and its direction, but it is also the isolation of the sitters that refers to that portrait.
I also particulalrly like the tilt of the carpet that projects the subject toward us and puts us right into that room: when I look at it I can feel my feet on that floor.
I always enjoy portraits that are theatrical: the kids are sitting that way to present themselves to the artist, the gestures are all because of the artist: the little girl would show her toy, the boy is performing his puppet show, the eldest is at ease, looking, the other boy maybe just wants to leave.
This work has nothing to do with a casual snapshot, there is a real tension here, a compelling work.
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