Lenaia 2019

Mary Jane Ansell painted “Lenaia,” and it’s a scene that feels both classical and very now. The first thing that grabs me is how she's handled light. There’s this beautiful chiaroscuro effect, where the figure emerges from a dark background, almost like she's stepping out of a dream. I wonder what it was like for Ansell, building up those layers, deciding where to let the light hit and where to keep things mysterious. The texture looks so smooth, almost porcelain-like, which gives the painting an incredibly tactile feel. I’m particularly drawn to the way she poses her figure—that hand resting thoughtfully against her face. It’s such a simple gesture, but it speaks volumes about contemplation, or maybe even a touch of melancholy. You can see the influence of the old masters, but there’s also something very contemporary about her approach to portraiture. It makes me think about how artists are constantly in dialogue with the past, reinterpreting and reinventing traditions in their own way.