Gallery Henoch to Auction Off Paintings for Steve Mills Exhibit
Mills utilizes strong light to cast rolling shadows. The shadows guide us through a rather complex stack of jostled papers. The effect is an inverse use of Chiaroscuro (an Italian word that roughly translates to "light and dark"). An early use of chiaroscuro is seen in the works of Caravaggio during the late 16th century. Caravaggio employed deep, dark (often black or brown hued) backgrounds in contrast to his figures which he lit from a single bright candle. The spotlight effect created high drama - in our gallery, Patricia Traub's excellent animal paintings utilize chiaroscuro in the Caravaggio manner. Steve Mills understands the value of this dramatic effect, and in a cunning twist, he reverses the roles of light and dark bring the use of chiaroscuro into his own terms. In STRONG DOLLAR the subject is surrounded in light allowing the shadow to float centrally in the piece. Very few painters have rendered compositions with this strategy. Mills does it to perfection.
When seen in person, we've noticed viewers can't help but move towards STRONG DOLLAR for close-up inspection. Discovering thousands of minuscule marks that create trompe l'oeil paper pulp and readable text only enhances their appreciation of the painting. From striking shadows to microscopic fonts, STRONG DOLLAR is a painting that wants to be viewed from near and far.
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