Portrait of My Mother 1935

Curator: We are looking at Boris Margo's "Portrait of My Mother," an oil painting created in 1935. It’s an excellent example of early abstract expressionism. Editor: It definitely evokes a dreamscape or perhaps a fractured memory. There is a distinct feeling of melancholy, the colours blend as a thick honey, it’s a warm yet slightly unsettling feeling. Curator: Margo, along with other artists of his time, was deeply engaged with the material conditions of art production. Oil paint allowed for a fluidity and layering, facilitating this very expressionistic style. Do you think the title is relevant to how we perceive it? Editor: Absolutely, knowing this is a portrait—though heavily abstracted—changes everything. Consider the social pressures and the expected gender roles placed on women in the 1930s. The swirling forms could reflect internal turmoil, a resistance to societal constraints, maybe a sort of fractured identity born from limited freedoms. Curator: That's a potent interpretation. We know Margo emigrated from Russia, coming to the U.S. Is that a potential lens for analysis? The experience of the immigrant can involve that sensation, too. The layers of the paint here literally enact layers of lived experiences. Editor: Yes, migration can have an incredible impact on how artists render belonging and memories. Margo lived at a time where political polarization shaped individuals' lives significantly; wars were ravaging Europe. Thinking about all this could allow the audience to consider the role of the artist as an observer in turbulent times. Curator: It is incredible to think about Margo experimenting so freely, even with formal concerns dominating discussion at the time. A consideration of materials gives us a lot to think about, though, seeing how radical his techniques became. Editor: For me, contextualising the artwork reminds us of the emotional and social currents swirling around the artist at that time. Let's hope visitors take away both!