madame butterfly 2015

Camilla d'Errico made "Madame Butterfly," sometime in the 20th century, using the smooth, controlled lines of illustrative painting. Looking at this piece, I imagine Camilla d'Errico in her studio, obsessing over every detail. She probably spends hours on one tiny section, making sure the colours blend perfectly and the light hits just right. It’s as if she's building a whole world, one brushstroke at a time. I can see this character, Madame Butterfly, is surrounded by colorful butterflies. Her eyes seem to be pleading with me, like she's been through some stuff. Is this a portrait of vulnerability, a way to make visible the unspoken feelings we all carry inside? The painting's surface is so smooth it is unreal, and I can see the gentle gradations of colour used to describe the butterfly wings, and the sad expression of her face. I love that the artist's signature is also like a little painting within a painting. It reminds me of some of Yoshitomo Nara's paintings of children with big heads and knowing eyes. There is a real conversation between artists who want to express the inner life.