Thomias Radin Étude du sol III, 2024

Étude du sol III is an oil painting on linen in the artist’s wooden frame.

Étude du sol III is the third painting from a series of gestural works painted in broad brushstrokes to capture the movement of the anonymous figures. The works share formal characteristics as Radin couples large, semi-transparent, dynamic brushstrokes with finer, darker lines. Radin’s use of these different brushstrokes not only stresses the given motion but also articulates the shadows.

This work depicts a figure caught in a swirling motion. Radin articulates the rotation beyond the posture of the figure by painting a spiral around the figure’s torso and legs with wide semi-transparent brushstrokes. Despite its dynamic movement, the figure remains centered in the composition.

The title translates to “Study of the Floor” and all the works in this series represent movements that start from the floor, drawing from diverse dance practices such as capoeira, hip-hop, and contemporary dance.