Postromanticism The Art of Passion - Claudia Moscovici

“The female form is of arresting beauty; there is no other thing I would
care as much to portray through my work,” declares Jeff Cornell, describing
the main inspiration for his art. And, certainly, his appreciation for feminine
beauty shows in every contour, every line. What is perhaps more unique and
surprising, however, is how fully Cornell can convey the mood of feminine
serenity, contemplation and sensuality with so little use of color, such delicate
texture and such an economy of lines.
“I want my work to speak to every person who views it, but it is important
to me that the message be whispered rather than shouted,” the artist states. His
message is certainly whispered, if not softly sung.
With very little use of shading, his paintings show rounded, sinuous forms,
volume. With very little use of color, they show vibrancy, emotion. With an
economy of lines, they reach a level of astonishing realism, but only through
suggestion. With almost no texture, they are nonetheless palpable. And with
very little narrative structure, they hint at movement, thought, feeling and
action.
Jeff Cornell’s art is perhaps the most difficult of all: the art of subtlety.
The art of suggesting human subjectivity-unexpressed thoughts, subcurrents of
emotions and hidden desires-rather than displaying them dramatically on a
canvas.
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