Jenny Saville

Rosetta 2
oil on paper, mounted on board
1970

reverse
oil on canvas
2003

Jenny Saville has the ability to create a piece of art that gets a message across and tells a story, although her work is somewhat disturbing, and quite hostile, she can still portray the emotion of her subjects. She may focus on the negative image of an emotion but the negative work expressions of the human face are much more interesting than those of a more positive nature.

The use of colour in her portraits shows the works true nature of the silent image, the feeling behind the work, although she ranges between hot and cold colours, no matter how she uses colours, the tones, textures and use of shading of gesture helps to create the emotion. She also focusses on the main subject of her image and avoids cluttering the background with unneeded distractions, all these factors together corresponds perfectly to create a perfect piece of work.