Illusion of Safety 2017

Daria Theodora made this painting, Illusion of Safety, sometime in the 20th century with an illustrative style and intricate detail. I imagine the process of making this was slow, almost painstaking, with a lot of layering, mixing colors, and trying things out. You can see the careful hand that went into creating the character's expression, posture, and flowing adornments. She looks a bit like she's sleepwalking, as if she's enacting a dream, lost in thought. There's a lovely tension between the realistic depiction of the figure and the more decorative elements surrounding her. The flat patterns and swirling colors remind me of Gustav Klimt or Aubrey Beardsley. It feels like Theodora is having a conversation with a whole history of image-making. The artist has created a mesmerizing image that leaves you wondering what's real and what's not.