Davida and Mate, Corinne Possibly 1980 - 1989

Curator: This photographic portrait, likely taken sometime in the 1980s, is titled “Davida and Mate, Corinne” and comes to us from the lens of Mariette Pathy Allen. Editor: My first thought is "celebratory". The rich green background, the vibrant floral patterns—they lend an almost Edenic quality to this intimate portrait. Curator: Notice the composition. Allen uses the natural foliage as a soft, blurring backdrop, directing our focus squarely on the subjects and the interplay between them. It’s a deliberate structure to invite the gaze. Editor: Right. I’m especially drawn to the clothing choices and what they suggest. Davida wears a vibrant strapless dress, seemingly at odds with what may be construed as traditionally masculine features. Her companion, Mate, Corinne, adopts a more traditionally understated and socially-sanctioned form of feminine dress in her printed top, suggesting different and complementary forms of womanhood. The way Mate places her hands creates a very familiar sense of love and unity. Curator: The contrast in patterns indeed draws out fascinating distinctions, doesn't it? Allen subtly guides us to perceive these differences. Think about the weight carried by these fashion choices. A bold reclamation for Davida and a gentle confirmation for Mate. The layers are quite palpable. Editor: I also notice the light. How it catches on their smiles, their jewelry, giving them a kind of timeless glow that echoes ancient representations of love, like Aphrodite and Psyche or Ruth and Naomi. I mean, at a basic level we see a friendship here, a relationship. At a more complicated level, there's a story to be told here about friendship among different people in what might have been a largely intolerant time for some people. Curator: It's interesting how you link it to a timeless trope through these objects! The artist indeed successfully establishes dialogue, where the composition subtly forces engagement with potentially contentious thematics of representation. Editor: For me, this portrait becomes a poignant visual testament to the power of identity. I can certainly read the social message through Pathy Allen's photographs, inviting me to contemplate what is represented and the historical value behind these images of her close community of friends. Curator: Absolutely. Looking closely today I understand the work's form enables these potent meanings in retrospect.