Collector of Souls

Alice Neel (1900-1984) was an American portrait artist, active principally from the 1930s until the time of her death. Surrounding herself throughout her life with other artists, intellectuals, and leftist political activists, she painted her neighbors and friends as well as casual acquaintances. What is truly striking and haunting to me about her work is its powerful psychological intimacy. A self-proclaimed "collector of souls," Neel's portraits provide the viewer a glimpse into so much of what makes up the world of a person - their place and time, economic level and class, a sense of anxiety, happiness, loneliness - which she captures and conveys through her sitters' poses, body language and expressions.

A documentary about her life and work, Alice Neel, was directed by her grandson Andrew and released in 2007.






















































Self Portrait, Skull, 1958






*
Alice Neel Biography on wikipedia
The Estate of Alice Neel