Wishing Well 

Editor: This is “Wishing Well”, a painting by Sarah Joncas. I don’t know the exact date. It depicts a woman sitting pensively on a well with butterflies fluttering around her. It feels like a scene from a fairytale, but a very melancholy one. How do you interpret this work? Curator: The melancholy definitely speaks to me. But beyond individual emotion, I see this as a meditation on the roles assigned to women. The "wishing well" is traditionally associated with hope and dreams, but what happens when those dreams are circumscribed by societal expectations, leaving a woman trapped, almost like a Rapunzel figure, within the confines of a well, within prescribed roles? Editor: That's a fascinating interpretation. I hadn’t considered the well as a symbol of confinement. I was more focused on the butterflies as symbols of transformation and freedom. Curator: Absolutely, the butterflies add another layer. Are they symbols of hope and change? Or are they illusions of freedom that tease her, highlighting her lack of agency? Consider how the dark, stormy sky contrasts with the delicate beauty of the butterflies, further emphasizing the internal conflict and perhaps even social oppression the figure represents. Does she even notice the butterflies? Editor: That contrast really clarifies how to understand her. I was reading her sadness as romantic, but your focus on the limitations imposed upon her brings an important dimension. I am curious to research more about how the artist represents her subjects. Curator: Exactly. The artist utilizes fantasy illustration and symbolism, reflecting and commenting on female representation in contemporary society. By situating this artwork in current theoretical context, we recognize its broader commentary on gender, identity, and freedom. Editor: This discussion has completely transformed how I view the painting. It’s much more than just a pretty picture. I’m seeing a critique of societal expectations. Curator: And that’s the beauty of art – it’s a constant dialogue between the artwork, the viewer, and the world around us.