Untitled 

This dreamlike painting was made with watercolor by Romanian artist Ligia Macovei, who lived through much of the twentieth century. Like many women artists, Macovei was excluded from many of the major institutions of the art world. She was encouraged to pursue a more conventional career as an architect. Her art reflects a personal symbolic language, one that we can imagine as a refuge from the social and political pressures of her time. The palette of blues and greens gives this piece an ethereal quality. The image suggests a nocturnal scene, with organic, fluid shapes, and ambiguous figures that prompt us to look beyond its surface. To fully understand the personal and historical context of Macovei's art, scholars turn to archival materials, exhibition reviews, and biographical research. By piecing together this information, we can better understand how her art speaks to the complex social structures of her time.