Matan Ben Cnaan's "Annabelle and Guy": A Masterpiece of Emotion and Morality

Winner of the Golden A' Fine Arts and Art Installation Design Award in 2017

Ben Cnaan's inspiration for "Annabelle and Guy" came from the biblical story of Jephthah, a tale of a father's heartbreaking decision to sacrifice his daughter. The artist sought to capture the complex emotions and moral dilemmas inherent in this narrative. He looked to art history, drawing inspiration from masters like Titian and Velasquez for gestures and positioning.

The painting is unique in its combination of visual representation and conceptual depth. Ben Cnaan aimed to depict everyday life in its environment with pictorial language, while simultaneously implying moral dilemmas and emotional states derived from the biblical story. The challenge was to address a biblical narrative without being anachronistic, a feat he accomplished with finesse.

Ben Cnaan used oil colors on board to create "Annabelle and Guy". After sketching on-site with the models, he returned to his studio to work on the composition, using the sketches and numerous photos as references. The finished work measures 120X130 cm.

The painting was started in 2013 and completed in early 2015. It was exhibited in the BP Portrait Award 2015 at the National Portrait Gallery in London. The research for the painting involved understanding the biblical story, exploring how it had been depicted previously, and studying the depiction of sitters in both biblical and secular compositions.

Creating "Annabelle and Guy" was not without its challenges. The project involved depicting a contemporary scene with a classical pictorial language, based on a horrifying biblical narrative. Finding the right models was crucial, as was maintaining a balance between the pictorial and photographic language. The greatest challenge, however, was using physics to make metaphysics visible, thereby depicting complex emotions and thoughts.

In conclusion, Matan Ben Cnaan's "Annabelle and Guy" is a powerful exploration of emotion, morality, and the human condition. This award-winning painting is a testament to the artist's skill and insight, and a compelling example of the power of art to provoke thought and engage the viewer.