The human figure, rendered with close attention to the way that the body is modelled and constructed, is the focus of Zarahn Southon’s work. In Self Portrait as a Young Painter, he portrays himself standing, paint brushes in hand, in a style which recalls the work of European artists such as Goya and Blake, with nods to predecessors such as Rembrandt.
Dr Bill Cooke, in his catalogue essay about Southon’s works, states that ‘Soon after graduating he [Zarahn] made a full tour of Europe, taking in all the major art centres. It has become charmingly unfashionable nowadays to go to Europe to sit at the feet of the Masters. But he has done this nevertheless, and to very great effect.’ Zarahn Southon himself is quoted as saying, ‘My aim in painting follows the European tradition in expressing emotion through the use of form, light and colour.’
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→ Zarahn Southon: Self Portrait as a Young Painter, 2002, publication