Art of Love, Day 10: When He Walks By...

Touching The Art

Art of Love, Day 10: When He Walks By...

2/9/2012

Here is the tenth of sixteen of my favorite artworks depicting romantic love in its various forms. I'll be adding one artwork a day to the blog until Valentine's Day!

"Like", "Tweet", and "Comment" on your favorites. The most liked artwork will be featured in my next video!

Expectation, by Charles Soulacroix. Frye Museum of Art, Seattle

Click images to enlarge

Two young women have left the social gathering to go spend some time with each other outside (probably to chat about boys). Suddenly, in the distance, they see someone who catches their eye--a handsome young man goes by not aware that the two lovely women are staring at him. As these two friends look on, their expressions reveal what this young man means to each. What could each be thinking? Who do you think is most interested in the young man?

2 Comments

Annette link

2/10/2012 09:45:26 am

This is such an engaging series, Luc. Thank you. I have to tune in everyday to see lovely works and gain from your insights!

Annette

2/11/2012 10:25:09 am

There is such eager and open anticipation in the gaze of the seated woman that it is tempting to say her feelings are greater. However, I believe love encompasses an acceptance of all emotion; for better and for worse, right? So I think, if I were gazing at my beloved, my face would look more like the woman in blue. I believe my happiness would encompass pleasure and anything else that I should have to endure to deserve my beloved. My gaze would be less conditional, more complex than mere eagerness. One woman is ready for fun, the other ready for anything at all.

As well, if I were a painter who wanted to express the fullness of love, I would include how it opens the soul to the expansiveness of love; see how the woman in blue has affection for her friend? This is how I feel in love; suddenly I contain such surfeit that it spills onto everyone.

It is possible, of course, to see the anticipation in the face of the seated woman as unbridled joy and the protective stance of her friend as a more neutral response to the object of their attention. In this interpretation, the woman in blue shelters her enthusiastic friend under her supportive wing. I can’t feel this as clearly, though. And too, there is the relaxed, seated posture contrasted with the standing, ready and alert stance of the other. Is it a fan she holds? At the ready to hide the nakedness of her vulnerable approval?

Altogether wonderful.

Art of Love, Day 10: When He Walks By...

Leave a Reply.

Archives

Categories