The Afternoon Of A Faun 

Curator: Let's discuss Tania Rivilis' oil painting, "The Afternoon Of A Faun." What is your initial response to this striking portrait? Editor: It feels incredibly intimate. The reclining figure, with his distant gaze, evokes a dreamlike state— a very contemporary take on classical languor. There's a hint of melancholy, wouldn't you agree? Curator: The composition is quite compelling. Notice the almost flattened perspective, creating a shallow depth of field. The artist emphasizes surface and texture rather than illusionistic space. The brushstrokes are so visible, alive! Editor: That is certainly interesting to consider, as a counterpoint to the figure’s seeming stillness. And his posture! That relaxed hand behind his head. Is he a modern-day shepherd resting from the midday sun, a symbol for art in the commercial era, as Pan was a protector of those creating artworks, poems and songs? The artist is tapping into a rich visual history. Curator: Exactly! The symbolic dimension adds layers of meaning. But also notice the palette: muted blues and greens, juxtaposed with the flesh tones. Rivilis plays with color relationships, creating visual interest. It has the spirit of realism that adds even more to the painting. Editor: You know, "Faun" links him to the mythological creature of the woods and fields, that blend of human and animal—a kind of liminal being, which makes us see what part is still 'animal' inside of ourselves. Perhaps that connection explains that introspective and slightly somber mood... Or the artist might simply see an intriguing resemblance to a "Faun," letting his figure rest and day dream with the wind's passing breeze through a clear landscape. Curator: What resonates with me the most is the ambiguity. Rivilis offers us a figure suspended between worlds—both timeless and utterly modern. I find it exciting the question remains open, for each viewer. Editor: Indeed. "The Afternoon of a Faun" provides a provocative lens for engaging the weight of classical symbols to explore our own contemporary states of mind. A remarkable reinterpretation for today.