Hope Gangloff often paints those closest to her: friends, family, and neighbors; rejecting the historical tradition of portraiture being reserved for the elite. In Arnold (Lehman-Richter), the subject is seen lounging beside Lake George, casually enjoying a moment of rest and leisure. Gangloff and a group of classmates from Cooper Union have traveled up to the lake every summer since graduation to reconnect with nature and each other. Though the group has changed over the years, the bond remains constant. The work exemplifies Gangloff’s approach to portraiture: informal, unguarded, and deeply human. Rather than idealizing or mythologizing her subjects, she captures them as they are, inviting viewers to see beauty and significance in the everyday. In doing so, she democratizes the portrait, turning ordinary people and moments into enduring works of art.