Winter 1892

Editor: So, this is "Winter" by Francesc Masriera, painted in 1892. It’s an oil painting of a young woman bundled up for the cold, with a massive fur muff and a fluffy bonnet. It makes me think of a genteel sort of shyness. What strikes you most about this work? Curator: The interesting thing is, for me, it evokes this... this delicious contradiction. We have the romantic softness of her gaze, the painterly rendering of the fur suggesting a certain level of intimacy. It invites you in. But there's this underlying tension. Notice how her fur muff almost shields her? It's both luxurious and a bit defensive. Does she look cold to you, really, or more like she's posing? Editor: I can see that! Like she's performing winter, rather than experiencing it. Do you think the "intimism" theme influenced how the painting depicts winter, focusing more on the individual's perception than the environment itself? Curator: Absolutely! It makes you think. Think about our own experiences. How often do we perform roles for others? "Winter" ceases to be about the season and becomes about the masks we wear. And, of course, that wonderful bonnet, as a signifier of a comfortable social class. Did this reflection add or detract anything from your understanding, as an undergrad? Editor: It definitely made me look at it in a totally different light. I was just seeing a pretty portrait, but now it feels like there’s a whole story underneath! Curator: Exactly! Which shows how "seeing" and "experiencing" art, like the painting’s winter itself, is more a reflective perception!