The Window

In this interior by James Lloyd, we see the window of the artist’s studio, although this is not the actual subject of the painting. In the reflection in the pane of glass we can see the artist at work. By depicting himself while painting at his easel in this »window picture«, Lloyd, born in England in 1971, places himself in the long tradition of artists’ self-portraits.

Similar to a still life, he depicts his painting utensils, sketchbooks, and notebooks scattered apparently randomly on the windowsill. However, this is also in line with tradition. It was by depicting the attributes of their profession that artists since the Renaissance—with their newly awakened self-confidence—proclaimed themselves to be painters.

Through the window we can see the corner of the street opposite and a nocturnal street scene, which, thanks to the manner in which they have been painted and the selected picture detail, are reminiscent of Impressionist models. With the various references to archetypes from art history and the fragmented self-portrait as artist in the reflection, Lloyd plays a sophisticated game rich in associations.