The Queen of Naples 1993

Maria Bozoky created "The Queen of Naples" with watercolour and gouache on paper. Just look at that red, it's so luminous! I can see the artist making these marks, layering and layering until the pigment almost glows from within, creating a push and pull of light and shadow. I wonder what Bozoky was thinking when she made this painting. Was she trying to capture the regal poise, or was it more about the dance of color and form? The way she's handled the dress, it's like the paint itself is a fabric, draped and flowing. And that fan! It's almost an afterthought, quickly rendered, but it adds so much character. There is something so intimate about the painting, it’s like Bozoky is inviting us into a private world, a shared moment of observation and interpretation. It reminds me that art is a conversation across time, a beautiful and messy exchange of ideas and emotions.