Parklandskab Fra Versailles 1918

Lili Elbe’s ‘Parklandskab Fra Versailles’ presents us with a luscious vision of nature conjured through brushstrokes of thick paint. Imagine Elbe standing before her easel, capturing not just the scene, but also the sensation of being in that space, in that garden. Her painting is not just a record, but an experience, a feeling brought into being through the materiality of paint. The colours are luminous and earthy, laid down in short strokes that seem to vibrate with life. Each dab and stroke contributes to the sense of depth and atmosphere. I wonder, did Elbe see herself in this image? In the way the garden seems to transition and transform, mirroring her own journey of self-discovery and transformation? Perhaps there is something deeply personal embedded in this landscape, a reflection of her inner world made visible through the act of painting. Painters are constantly in dialogue with each other across time, and I see Elbe’s work as part of this ongoing conversation. The garden comes alive, inviting us to ponder the possibilities of transformation and the power of art to express the unspoken.