Na Na Na Na Na, after Sir William Nicholson’s Portrait of Gertrude Jekyll of 1920, 2012

“Intimate in scale, richly coloured, playfully serious, seriously playful…”

Rather aptly named, Before and After is an exhibition of the work of Holly Frean at Rebecca  Hossack Gallery in London. Apt, because there is something reassuring and familiar about the contorted faces – these are paintings we have seen before. Their formats, too, are traditional – oval shaped, like portraiture of the past.

But these paintings are thoroughly modern. Layered thickly and jewel-coloured, they feel intimate, like they have been painted for you, the viewer. I want to peer into them rather than stand back from them. The wonderful titles just add to the playfulness…

What do you think? Do you feel a sense of familiarity and fondness when you view these paintings? 

Before and After, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, until 19 January 2013.

More in the gallery series, here