During the Renaissance, family portraits were a way for aristocrats to preserve the image of their loved ones. Renaissance artists took great care to capture the essence of their subjects, their world, and their era, thus creating lasting testimonials of their lives and importance. One of the most famous portraits of the time is Van Eyck’s "The Arnolfini Portrait," where the couple stands side by side.

By painting portraits of couples in their familiar environments, Delage and Olson seek to immortalize not only their appearance but also their relationship and the unique setting in which they live. Each canvas becomes an intimate and timeless snapshot, a contemporary reinterpretation of the family portrait tradition.

Using the halftone technique, the paintings offer a unique and dynamic visual experience. From a distance, the images appear almost photographic, capturing a surprising realism through the small dots that make up the work. However, as you approach, you discover the rich texture and materiality of the acrylic paint. This duality between distant realism and close-up abstraction invites the viewer to interact with the canvas in different ways depending on the distance, making each glance a new discovery.

Unlike Renaissance portraits where the subjects' identity was paramount and clearly recognizable, Delage and Olson play with anonymity. The characters are not identifiable. This artistic choice allows for a greater focus on the emotions, relationships, and overall atmosphere of the scene rather than on the individuality of the subjects. This creates a universal and timeless dimension, allowing each viewer to project their own stories and emotions into the work.

Thus, Delage and Olson offer a modern and innovative reinterpretation of the portrait tradition. They combine the historical and emotional richness of Renaissance portraits with contemporary techniques and perspectives, creating artworks that are both deeply personal and universally accessible.