In the piece, “Pool Players,” George Rose paints in a style that at first glance appears to be almost abstract. But quickly, figures appear that give a sense of very intense movement. People are surrounding a pool table, leaning in for a shot, reaching out over the table, resting along the side, or straining over to see the result of pool balls colliding with one another. The view of the table is seen not at eye level or from above the pool table, but somewhere in between. For me, an entry point into this painting is from the bottom-right corner, where a man in a blue hat is leaning over the table with his pool stick in hand, lining up a shot. The way he is leaning leads your eye to the next person, who appears to be straining his neck to
