First Blush Of Spring 2013

Curator: We're standing before "First Blush of Spring," an oil-on-canvas landscape piece by Terri Kelly Moyers from 2013, executed in a plein-air style. Editor: My initial reaction is that it evokes a sense of wistful solitude. The soft colors and diffuse light contribute to a dreamlike atmosphere, further enhanced by the delicate parasol she’s carrying. Curator: Indeed. This romantic style positions the woman in a space akin to historical pastoral fantasies where women are aestheticized as the embodiments of nature, carefully framing the identity of the ideal women. The way her modest dress skims the tall grass, almost blending her with the surroundings... it feels intentionally symbolic. Editor: Symbolism aside, the execution is interesting. See how the brushstrokes become more visible in the foreground, giving texture to the grasses? The way the color palette leans so heavily on muted blues and ochres is interesting given its an ostensibly "spring" scene. Curator: These cooler tones may highlight something more nuanced at play than simple celebratory springtime exuberance, particularly through the demure representation of the subject in what could read as the male "gaze". Do we read longing or trepidation? Is this subject's social expectation being intentionally depicted in such an understated light? Editor: Perhaps. The slightly unfocused background also throws off my depth perception—foreground and background blend together in unexpected ways. I also want to look more closely at the umbrella...the intricate design throws the focus of the image off for me in a wonderful way. It is both ornamentation and protective layer, if you will, against the world beyond her gaze. Curator: Exactly. An ornamental defense. A visible boundary signifying the expected containment of women as beautiful object versus individual in 2013. Editor: Looking at the composition once more, I now better see the tension between the idealized woman and the unidealized landscape of uneven earth. Very insightful piece for capturing a singular emotion! Curator: And one that underscores how the picturesque has functioned to socialize even up to recent history!