Two girls in a chair 1929

Curator: Here we have "Two Girls in a Chair," a watercolor by Nils Dardel, created in 1929. Editor: It has such an intimate, almost secretive mood. The loose, flowing lines give it an ephemeral feel, as though these figures are just passing through, like a half-remembered dream. Curator: It's intriguing how Dardel evokes both vulnerability and self-possession. Nudes, historically, can be loaded symbols. What feelings do they elicit here? Editor: Visually, the composition hinges on a dialogue between angularity and fluidity. Note the way the lines suggest weight without truly defining form; this creates the wistful air. And the watercolor itself… such delicacy and ease! Curator: Right. We see this sort of exploration in intimate scenes recurring across Dardel’s career. The intimacy suggests that, for example, one woman looking down whilst clasping her hands is deep in her thoughts or, alternatively, communicating feelings. Editor: The coloring also is not so realistic as is atmospheric, focusing our perception on psychological narrative rather than corporeal solidity. I wonder if that was intentional. Curator: Likely so, it can certainly be construed as the symbolic association of self discovery. The girls' shared space creates this tension in what would otherwise be mere figuration. We see it a lot in his pieces, but there is always a deeper human context within which their intimacy is only a surface-level marker of what is truly present within their character and, for lack of a better term, 'the truth'. Editor: It definitely prompts you to ponder on hidden narratives, even secrets between those that intimately share. The watercolor's gentle bleed only heightens this feel. Curator: True; Dardel uses familiar themes to convey his artistic depth and cultural observations, particularly the exploration of social, and intimate nuances. Editor: It does give a special and private gaze, an inner world we are merely being afforded a glimpse into... Curator: An appropriate notion on which to part, don't you agree?