Footfalls of the Sky 2020

Editor: Here we have Jana Brike's "Footfalls of the Sky," painted in 2020. The artwork seems to be executed in oil and it's…dreamlike, almost surreal. I'm struck by the celestial backdrop juxtaposed with these figures. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see Brike tapping into a long tradition of representing women in connection with nature, but with a contemporary twist. The ethereal setting immediately brings to mind the Romantic era's fascination with the sublime. Editor: That’s interesting, this sublime aspect. I was drawn by the use of planetary forms within the scene, in a way I thought maybe it's commenting on environmental issues. What's your impression? Curator: It could be interpreted that way, especially considering contemporary anxieties about ecological crises, certainly. However, the presentation of the female figures—their attire and floral embellishments—suggests Brike is also engaging with societal constructions of femininity. How are these representations constructed, circulated, and consumed? Do they challenge or reinforce existing power structures? Editor: So, almost questioning the role of women, but with a visual language that combines familiar artistic conventions with these modern…concerns. Curator: Exactly. Brike cleverly layers visual references, prompting us to consider how societal narratives intertwine with art history itself. It seems relevant how women artists use past imagery in present contexts. What’s "changed" for female painters and women presented? Editor: It's like a conversation across time. I’ll think of the interplay of visual references and historical context next time. Curator: And I will look more critically into this planetary sublime. There is lots more here to unpack, and it's fun doing it.