Jorge Santos paintings are a profound display of picture making for the sheer purposes of formulating a transparent narrative via highly technical draftsmanship and paint handling.
As a self-taught artist, the evolutionary process of his work is often subject to reconfiguration, repositioning, and refinement until the grand conclusion is met. Narrative is of such importance that even compositional concerns may be subordinate to the inclusion of a necessary motif in the storyline.
Paintings by Santos exist as a cocktail of source materials, from still life to imagery of the mind’s eye. They are not pre-assembled sets such as that of the Realist painter, and any “photo realist” instances are purely the result of the artist’s skill to portray a likeness. In fact, the ambient lighting and elongated figures are more stylized than authentic, echoing the Italian Mannerist painters of the 16th century.
In his pictures, settings come off as irrational or precariously balanced, moods are secretive, illusory and often ambiguous but there is no argument to their blatant allure and charm over the viewer. These complexities may seem to deliberately provoke interpretation but Santos will only entertain his personal opinion that he is simply an image-maker.
Images courtesy of Jorge Santos
Discover: www.jorgesantos.com
