This is fascinating. I would have sworn the sketch and painting were made decades apart, but no! I can't imagine the self-reimaginings required to move between being someone else's muse/model and making one's own paintings.
Oh, that's such an interesting point. I've not considered that dynamic. I do think she was creating self-portraits long before she was anyone's muse, however.
Eliza, I enjoyed this so much. How lucky you are to be able to unearth so many discoveries about your mother through her work. My mother died two years ago, but she was not an artist and didn't leave anything very revealing behind (that I know of!)... and I too have so many questions for her.
Thank you, Debbie. Are you writing about her? I find my memories are also productive, giving up more and more as I write into them. It's amazing what the mind can hold when I'm sure I don't know anything.
What a process of discovery! They are lucky to have you carrying on their legacy. And also lucky that their work has so much merit. Do you have plans to place some of the work in museums? Or maybe they already are. Such a difficult dilemma what to do with artists' work once they have passed on.
Good that his work is in museums, I hope your Mom's work will find it's way. The problem with museums, though, as I'm sure you know, is that the art may just remain in storage forever and not get exhibited. Anyway, I tell myself that the world is slowly and quickly deteriorating, and that even without global warming and politics. I read that ultimately only 1% of art ultimately survives. I just keep painting!!
I love that you are doing this. I am doing a memoir with my late husband. It feels good to plant my amazing person here in words and images. Safely stowed.
This is fascinating. I would have sworn the sketch and painting were made decades apart, but no! I can't imagine the self-reimaginings required to move between being someone else's muse/model and making one's own paintings.
Oh, that's such an interesting point. I've not considered that dynamic. I do think she was creating self-portraits long before she was anyone's muse, however.
I can’t wait to read it! I hope all is well.
The sweatshirt. The questions it begs. To see things differently after she is gone. You've captured the surprises and mind-spinning recalibrations.
Thank you, Jill!
Eliza, I enjoyed this so much. How lucky you are to be able to unearth so many discoveries about your mother through her work. My mother died two years ago, but she was not an artist and didn't leave anything very revealing behind (that I know of!)... and I too have so many questions for her.
Thank you, Debbie. Are you writing about her? I find my memories are also productive, giving up more and more as I write into them. It's amazing what the mind can hold when I'm sure I don't know anything.
Eliza, I have written about her. It was hard to write and still feels very private. https://debbieweil.substack.com/p/how-i-lost-my-mom-long-before-she
What a process of discovery! They are lucky to have you carrying on their legacy. And also lucky that their work has so much merit. Do you have plans to place some of the work in museums? Or maybe they already are. Such a difficult dilemma what to do with artists' work once they have passed on.
Thank you, Lora. My father’s work is in museums, including the Whitney. My mother’s work is lesser known. It’s a terrible dilemma, yes.
Good that his work is in museums, I hope your Mom's work will find it's way. The problem with museums, though, as I'm sure you know, is that the art may just remain in storage forever and not get exhibited. Anyway, I tell myself that the world is slowly and quickly deteriorating, and that even without global warming and politics. I read that ultimately only 1% of art ultimately survives. I just keep painting!!
I know a painter who is painting over her old canvases. Smile.
Realistic but also sad. I hope she/he is asking someone if they see beauty in the work being destroyed.
I love that you are doing this. I am doing a memoir with my late husband. It feels good to plant my amazing person here in words and images. Safely stowed.
Thank you, Kara. I understand viscerally