Ellen Altfest in ‘The Female Gaze’ at Cheim & Read Gallery

Known for hyper-detailed renderings of the male body (among other natural subjects), Ellen Altfest’s ‘Leg’ ponders the facts on a section of a man’s leg. Veins, hair, and tiny blemishes are the ostensible subjects of the painting, but the limb gives off a vital glow, contrasting its grey surroundings and suggesting that even a fractional view of her subject bears close scrutiny. (At Cheim & Read Gallery in ‘The Female Gaze, Part Two: Women Look at Men’ through Sept 2nd).

Ellen Altfest, Leg, oil on linen, 8 x 11 x 1 ½ inches, 2010.
Ellen Altfest, Leg, oil on linen, 8 x 11 x 1 ½ inches, 2010.