In these times of so much turmoil in the world, it seemed fitting to present the paintings by an artist, whose works remind us of a less hurried time. It was a time when small bits of beauty created contemplation as in the paintings of Monet's gardens.
Such an artist is Simeon Nijenhuis (1969-). His oil paints take us back in subject and technique to the Impressionists. His studied use of light is reminiscent of their paintings when they'd paint the same subject in all different seasons just to study natural light.
Yet, in his paintings of interiors, there's an immediacy. It feels like a moment just before or after something has occurred. That sense of anticipation puts me in mind of more contemporary artists like Hopper. (One reviewer in referring to Nijenhuis' interiors used the phrase, "...tangible atmosphere.")
At the same time, there is a sense of textures, balance and beauty. This invites a calm waiting while the viewer's mind creates a story.
As Nijenhuis said in an interview, "In the 20th Century, the painting became a concept, an illustration of an idea. What I want is a painting to become an experience again. A painting must 'live" to touch your senses."
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