Rabbow (born in Berlin in 1940) recreates the ancient method of “grisaille” by painting solely in monochrome shades of neutral color using tempera paint. All at once, his wraithlike subjects seem ordinary yet perplexingly celestial. He believes that hair detracts from the smoothly pristine facial features, thus caps and hats are used to keep the viewer’s eye focused upon the subject. These paintings show neither depth nor distance, as Rabbow does not shadow his forms, as such, the background and perspective are mere gestures towards realism. (http://www.landaufineart.ca/#!rabbow-bio/c1rxh) Rabbow is not a realist; he is a mystic. In his paintings he pursues his ideal of beauty. His faces are not portraits; they spring from his imagination, his yearning for perfect beauty, his pursuit of simplicity. He finds it in people, in their faces and in their souls. The appealing features that we admire in beautiful faces – fullness, roundness, smooth and luminescent skin, are heightened to a degree of abstraction. His idealized face is in fact always the same face, whether male or female, a peasant, a cook, a boxer or a swimmer. It is ordinary and celestial at the same time. Hair would detract from the perfect shape of the head, so caps and hats take the place of hair. These paintings show neither depth nor distance, there are no shadows. The background and perspective is a mere gesture towards realism. As close as the artist brings the viewer to these “fantasy people” as elusive they are. Their beauty is synthetic – the mystery is the attraction. In the expression of the faces one perceives at once an amused serenity and a sweet melancholy. One can’t quite grasp the emotion but the impression is lasting and unforgettable. (http://news.hohmannfineart.com/) undefined

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