Nerdrum is a Norwegian artist who has been somewhat of a polarizing figure, claiming that his work is kitsch, and that it transcends all time. He feels himself to be ‘The Savior of Painting,’ and has even painted a self-portrait with that title. Personality aside, Nerdrum does good work. We love the ethereal quality of his scenes; this one is set in some embryonic skyscape that is familiar and foreign all at once. Two light sources, one warm and one cool, light up these figures, seemingly from within. We imagine that if there were such a thing as heaven, soulmates would float in the calm gentleness of eternity. This painting is truly beautiful.
