An old man threads a needle by candlelight, and the painting holds you at that exact small task. He wears round wire spectacles low on his nose, a plaid shirt and a worn green waistcoat, and his white hair and beard catch the warm glow from the single candle behind him on the left. His hands are doing the careful work, pulling the thread taut, and his eyes are narrowed in concentration. Everything around him drops away into warm brown shadow, so all the light and attention land on his face and fingers. The thick, textured oil paint suits the deep folds of an old face. A close, quiet character study by Michael Slutsker.