This painting depicts a contemporary take on a traditional theme: adolescent male posturing. In this case, the “Boys” are showing off in front of the viewer by flexing their muscles in poses of faux toughness. One is never certain whether the “Boys” have adopted these poses spontaneously, as in a private joke, or if they are perhaps attempting to impress a female observer. Whatever the case may be, the “Boys” as summed toughness and the uncertainty surrounding the motivation of their behavior serves to add humor as well as a degree of sexual tension to the overall image.

Technique - Oil on canvas