Exit Christian Riese Lassen

The composition presents a fragmented portrait, rendered in a style characterized by bold brushstrokes and a restricted palette dominated by blues, reds, and yellows. The figures face is not depicted realistically; instead, it appears as a collection of planes and angles, suggesting a sense of disorientation or psychological fragmentation. A strong diagonal line cuts across the composition from the upper left to lower right, disrupting any sense of conventional perspective and contributing to the overall feeling of instability.
The artist employed thick impasto throughout, creating a tactile surface that emphasizes the materiality of the paint itself. The application is energetic and expressive, with visible brushwork adding dynamism to the image. The color choices are significant; the deep blues evoke a mood of melancholy or introspection, while the reds suggest intensity, perhaps even distress. The yellows provide moments of visual relief, but their placement within the darker tones prevents them from appearing optimistic.
The eyes, rendered as simple horizontal lines, appear closed or averted, hinting at an unwillingness to confront something directly. This contributes to a sense of withdrawal and isolation. The mouth is barely discernible, further reinforcing this impression of emotional distance.
Subtly embedded within the abstract forms are recognizable features – a suggestion of a nose, the curve of a cheekbone – which serve to ground the image in human representation while simultaneously undermining any expectation of straightforward portraiture. This interplay between recognition and abstraction creates a tension that invites multiple interpretations. The overall effect is one of psychological complexity, suggesting an exploration of inner turmoil or a moment of profound introspection. It’s possible to read this as a depiction of someone struggling with internal conflict, attempting to escape from something unseen, or grappling with a difficult truth.