Antoillier 2017

Mary Jane Ansell created this enigmatic painting, "Antoillier," with what seems to be thin layers of oil paint, allowing the figure to emerge softly. I can imagine Ansell, brush in hand, carefully layering the paint to capture the delicate balance between fragility and strength embodied by the young woman. Her sheer top feels almost ghost-like, while the antlers, an uncanny halo, hint at something wild. It reminds me a little of Paula Rego in how it suggests feminine power, but through a different lens. The subtle gradations of light and shadow give the piece a dreamy, ethereal quality. There's a tension between the precision of the figure and the rawness of the antlers. It’s as if Ansell is inviting us to consider the complex relationship between civilization and the natural world. Painters like Ansell are in an ongoing conversation, aren't they? They're constantly pushing the boundaries of what painting can be, encouraging us to see the world in new and unexpected ways.