Between Life and Life 1998

Editor: Here we have Will Barnet's etching from 1998, "Between Life and Life." It presents us with a stark scene: one woman stands with her back to us while another, perhaps her reflection, holds a glass. There's an air of solemnity. What strikes you about this work? Curator: The power lies in its symbolism, wouldn’t you agree? The title alone hints at a liminal space, a threshold. The mirror, of course, is an ancient symbol, representing the self, but also vanity, truth, illusion… which do you think Barnet explores here? Editor: I initially leaned towards ‘illusion,’ the reflection perhaps representing a false self, but the quiet tone suggests something deeper, more like introspection. Curator: Exactly! And that's where the 'Between Life and Life' idea surfaces. Consider the glass – is it half-full or half-empty? It could represent the present moment poised between past memories and future expectations. What does the woman's posture tell us? The turned back is, visually, almost an obscuring gesture, a concealing from one vision to show another. Editor: That’s a great point. I hadn't thought about it that way. So, we have a present self, facing away from us, and a reflected self considering a toast, suspended in time. Curator: Precisely. It speaks to the human condition, doesn't it? This dance between observation and experience, past and future, a visible face and the concealed depths of the soul. A still, careful observation becomes something deeply thoughtful. What will you take away from this work? Editor: Definitely a renewed awareness of how carefully chosen symbols and composition contribute to creating layered meaning! I can’t wait to share this perspective.