Belle 

Editor: This is "Belle," a drawing by Allison Reimold. There's no date listed, but the portrait, surrounded by vibrant peonies, is so striking. What strikes me is how the bold color of the blooms contrasts the monochrome nude. What do you see in this piece? Curator: What I find compelling is the contemporary revival of classical themes, like the nude, within a clearly digitally-inflected style. Consider the role of social media in circulating imagery of the idealized body. Reimold seems to participate in and comment on the visual saturation, using a traditional medium. Does the drawing feel subversive or celebratory to you? Editor: I guess both? There is definitely an aspect of classic beauty and celebration, but I feel like there is a power to claiming this image. I am reminded of Georgia O'Keefe’s bold paintings of flowers, like magnified, abstracted, feminine symbols. But why the nude with it? Curator: The nude figure invites us to think about the gaze – whose gaze is being centered? Is it a male gaze that historically dominated artistic representation, or is the artist subverting that, creating a more empowering, self-aware representation of female form? Moreover, what institutions are responsible for determining who gets to show their body, how, and to whom? Editor: It’s definitely a powerful take on a timeless subject matter and the cultural institutions in play. Thanks for the perspective! Curator: And thank you for offering a perspective that underscores art history's continuing conversation.