Lioness 2017

Editor: We're looking at Harmonia Rosales's 2017 painting, "Lioness," created with oil paints. It's really striking; the soft color palette juxtaposed with the powerful imagery feels very deliberate. What elements stand out to you, and how might we interpret them? Curator: This piece prompts us to consider the materials used and their socioeconomic implications. Oil paint, traditionally associated with Western art historical canons, is here employed by Rosales to reimagine classical narratives through a Black, female lens. The very act of utilizing this medium is a statement about access, appropriation, and the decolonization of art history. The smoothness of the application, mimicking the 'Old Masters,' points to learned technique and deliberate choices about how she presents this Black female figure in relation to, or even dominating, the symbol of Western strength in the Lion. Don't you think? Editor: I do. It is about shifting that power dynamic. I also noticed that she references mythological or allegorical subject matter, what does that imply, to you? Curator: Allegory enables social commentary through symbolism. Here, what are we meant to feel? That Black woman is more powerful than Western icons because they share an affection for one another, or simply because she commands the lion's body? We can also consider Rosales' labor: how long did she work with those specific oils to achieve that precise Renaissance 'feel' and contrast the history of underpaid models that have, and continue to be, prevalent in Western art? I believe Rosales implicates viewers in her work. How might *we* subvert similar hegemonies through artistic consumption or creation? Editor: Those points are super helpful when analyzing Rosales’ process. I was only focused on the image and how it subverts gender roles. Thank you! Curator: Absolutely. Examining the materiality of art enriches our engagement and encourages conversations about its broader cultural impact.