The artwork titled “Body” by Luc Tuymans, created in 1990 in Belgium, exemplifies symbolic painting within the New European Painting movement. This piece, executed in oil on canvas, is housed in the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K) in Gent, Belgium.
In “Body,” Luc Tuymans employs a minimalist and muted palette to depict a human torso, abstractly rendered with simple brushstrokes and boundaries. The painting is characterized by its subdued tones, primarily greys and whites, and its focus on form and silhouette rather than detailed anatomical features. The deliberate use of sparse lines and shading highlights the symbolic nature of the representation, imbuing the artwork with an understated yet profound depth. The artwork’s simplicity, combined with its evocative abstraction, invites contemplation and introspection, reflecting Tuymans’ distinctive approach within the contemporary art landscape.