Purple is So Her Color 

Edward Runci's "Purple is So Her Color" presents us with a vision of mid-century feminine allure, rich with symbolism. The color purple, donned in the sitter's gloves, historically signified royalty, luxury, and a certain degree of mystique. Coupled with the white fur stole, an emblem of purity and affluence, this image speaks of a carefully constructed facade. Yet, what surfaces is more profound. Observe how this color appears in other contexts, such as priestly garments during penitential seasons, shifting in meaning. The sensuality of the flower clutched in her gloved hands becomes a poignant memento mori, reminding us of life’s fleeting nature, much like the vanitas paintings of the Dutch Golden Age. The smile, though radiant, cannot fully conceal an undercurrent of melancholy; a common human condition that transcends time and is rooted in our collective memory. This piece engages the viewer on a deeper subconscious level. Such symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, as each period finds its unique expression of universal truths.