Dans la tour 1952

Léonor Fini made "Dans la tour" without being too prescriptive about its date, a painting where the brushstrokes are almost imperceptible, creating a smooth, dreamlike surface. Fini, with her surrealist leanings, presents us with a scene that feels both classical and utterly strange, the figures emerging from a hazy, indeterminate space. The texture is remarkably even, the paint meticulously applied, almost erasing the evidence of its making. But look closer, and you'll notice the subtle gradations of color, the way the red of the draped figure pops against the deep black of the other figure's gown, how these choices create a sense of drama and mystery. The way the female figure gestures feels open, inviting. Think of other artists like Frida Kahlo, who also used their art to explore identity, sexuality, and the self. What I like about Fini is that she embraces ambiguity. Nothing is ever resolved, and that’s what keeps us looking, thinking, and feeling.