Jenny Saville @ Gagosian Gallery

from Artobserve.com

  I recently saw Jenny Saville: Continuum show at the Gagosian Gallery.  On display there you'll find about 15 drawings and paintings, life-sized, most of which are exploring the mother and child theme.  I guess (based on likeness) that the mothers represented are the artist herself, though I could not find any reference to state this as a fact.  There are also some portraits in the show which in my opinion have less of an impact, so I'll comment a little more on the motherhood series.  These pieces are inspired by "the Renaissance nativity portraits --in particular Leonardo da Vinci's cartoon The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and John the Baptist".  She reworks and overlaps images of restless children, with that of a tender but vigilant mother. The interweaving of oil painted, realistic, figures and charcoal gestural drawings give these works a contemporary and dynamic look.  The theme is emotional, and the figures are well executed, with a modern twist on a classical approach.  Overall, a great show to see.