SAME WORK IN OIL, SIZE - 40" X 40" Medium and Impact of Oil Paint

The oil version of Relationship of Two presents a dramatically different sensory and emotional impact compared to the watercolor iteration. Oil paint allows for greater opacity, richness, and texture, and here the artist uses the medium to intensify the emotional gravity and visual assertiveness of the composition. The colors are bolder, the contrasts sharper, and the overall effect more visceral and theatrical. The inherent depth and saturation of oil paint amplify the themes of duality and psychological complexity central to this work.

Color and Emotional Resonance

The color palette in this version shifts from pastel subtleties to highly saturated, contrasting hues: vivid reds, royal blues, acidic greens, bold yellows, and intense purples dominate the image. The emotional tone becomes more expressive and confrontational, possibly reflecting deeper emotional entanglement or tension between the figures. These colors evoke a sense of drama or even conflict, rather than quiet introspection, suggesting that the relationship portrayed may contain internal friction or passionate dynamism.

The background, composed of rectangular blocks of deep, warm colors (burgundy, burnt orange, and reddish-brown), further anchors the figures in a more grounded, theatrical space compared to the ambiguous space in the watercolor. These warmer tones add to the intensity of mood, providing a backdrop that contrasts with and emphasizes the boldness of the facial features.

Form and Structure

The composition remains rooted in Cubist deconstruction, but the oil medium adds a sculptural quality to the overlapping forms. The edges between color fields are more pronounced, and the use of heavy outlines and thick brushwork enhances the sense of segmentation and division. Despite this fragmentation, the integration of the two figures remains unified, held together by repeated curves, mirrored elements, and harmonious contour lines.

The facial planes are exaggerated further in this version. The stylized eyes—particularly the shared central eye—take on an almost symbolic weight, evoking themes of mutual perception or surveillance. Lips are painted in a deep red, more pronounced than in the watercolor version, which may suggest sensuality or expression.

Texture and Surface

Oil paint’s texture and viscosity introduce a tactile dimension absent in the watercolor. The brushwork is evident in certain areas, giving parts of the painting a relief-like surface. This adds physical depth to the emotional content—emphasizing that relationships are not only psychologically layered but also materially felt. The painting becomes less of a passive image and more of a physical presence that occupies space with assertiveness.

Symbolic Interpretation and Psychological Depth

In this oil version, the painting shifts from an intimate psychological exploration to a more charged interpersonal narrative. The intensified color, the forceful contours, and the density of the medium collectively suggest a relationship that is not merely coexistent, but in dynamic tension—a potential struggle for identity, space, or dominance.

Where the watercolor whispers, the oil version shouts and wrestles. The fusion of faces now evokes less harmony and more a collision or negotiation of personalities, pointing to themes such as co-dependence, emotional conflict, or passionate unity.

The curved form to the left, now bright orange, may suggest a feminine presence, while the angular blue-and-yellow shapes to the right evoke masculine energy, though the work transcends literal gender binaries. Instead, it appears to symbolize the fluidity and fusion of energies—oppositional, complementary, or coexistent.

Conclusion

This oil painting version of Relationship of Two transforms the original's gentle philosophical meditation into a vivid emotional confrontation. Through saturated color, sculptural texture, and the expressive power of oil paint, the artist deepens the visual narrative into one of intensity, struggle, and vibrancy. While the core theme—interpersonal entanglement—remains intact, the shift in medium reframes the story: it is now a vivid, almost operatic expression of the complexities of love, identity, and the human condition.