Rita, Gille and Romaine 1947

Curator: Ah, here we are in front of Valentine Hugo’s pencil drawing from 1947, "Rita, Gille and Romaine". The monochromatic scene pulls you in, doesn’t it? Editor: Yes, a somber, contemplative scene. There’s an immediate sense of watchful stillness about it, like a dream you can’t quite shake off. The grayscale gives it a haunting quality, doesn’t it? Curator: Absolutely. Hugo was deeply entrenched in Surrealism, and this piece really exemplifies how the movement toyed with dreamscapes and the subconscious. Look at how she layers figuration – it creates an incredibly complex emotional atmosphere. Editor: You’re right. And there's such an interesting contrast between the heavily shaded areas and the stark white spaces. It’s almost like she's mapping out different psychic territories, using the play of light and shadow to define emotional distance and connection. What's fascinating is the composition, where we can see floating eyes dominating over a circle, suggesting perhaps a symbolic sun or moon. Curator: I've always felt it's deeply personal – she uses imagery as a portal into her own psyche and experiences. Given that many Surrealist artists embraced automatism as a path to understanding and creativity, the act of drawing perhaps became a visual diary of some sort. Editor: It speaks volumes. Also, her meticulous, yet expressive application of pencil strokes, the details of textures created through hatching and cross-hatching - the medium enhances that surreal dreamlike atmosphere, as we dive into an intimate experience. Curator: True. Hugo, early in her life, had a very traditional artistic upbringing that would enable such meticulous execution. A world in contrast to the avant-garde circles she moved in later on. Don't you find that contradiction beautifully palpable? Editor: Precisely. "Rita, Gille, and Romaine" captures a quiet turbulence that you wouldn’t necessarily expect, the power of which still manages to be profoundly moving. I could get lost in the composition for days! Curator: Indeed! It is one of those pieces that stays with you.