Kore (Akropolis museet inv. 670) 1911

Editor: So this is Marie Henriques’s “Kore (Akropolis museet inv. 670)” from 1911. It looks like an oil painting on canvas. I find it striking how she’s captured the texture of the original sculpture – almost as if it’s not a painting at all, but a direct impression. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: The work is, from a formalist perspective, a masterful exploration of representation and materiality. Consider the way Henriques utilizes the medium of oil paint to depict stone. The layering of pigments creates a convincing illusion of depth and texture. Note how she translates the cool solidity of marble through a chromatic scale that both captures light and suggests the underlying form. What do you think of her color choices? Editor: I think it's really interesting that she used that muted palette. It almost gives it a ghostlike quality, this ancient sculpture rendered in such soft colors. It makes it feel both present and distant. Curator: Precisely. And how the subtle variations in tone suggest the effects of time and weathering on the sculpture's surface. We should appreciate the compositional choices as well. The figure dominates the canvas, but the restrained background invites close consideration. Would you agree? Editor: I do. There is an amazing contrast to be found in the textures and tones. Thank you for clarifying these points about form and materiality; I see so much more now. Curator: My pleasure. And I find myself appreciating the tensions she creates between a faithful reproduction and her own artistic expression, an interpretation manifested in the careful brushstrokes and chromatic considerations.