Pieridae 2019

Editor: Allison Reimold’s 2019 drawing, "Pieridae," is striking. The contrast between the grayscale portrait and the vibrant yellow butterflies is really captivating. How would you interpret this piece from a formalist perspective? Curator: I am most struck by the juxtaposition of precision and fluidity. The portrait, meticulously rendered, displays incredible control over line and value. Yet, this precision is contrasted by the almost chaotic arrangement of butterflies and the woman's flowing, almost gravity-defying hair. What do you make of this tension? Editor: That’s a really interesting observation! It feels like those softer, organic shapes push against the portrait’s more rigid elements, like the lines of the sailor collar, making the overall composition more dynamic. Do you think that contrast affects how we perceive the subject? Curator: Precisely. The use of chiaroscuro on the face, juxtaposed with the flattened, graphic quality of the butterflies, also affects our perception. We perceive depth in the figure and yet are reminded of the two-dimensionality of the drawing surface itself. It almost feels like the butterflies exist within a different pictorial space. It creates an intriguing formal play. Editor: I see what you mean. That layering adds a real depth, even while the butterflies themselves remain somewhat flat. I guess, on the surface it's just a pretty portrait, but the composition tells a much more complicated story! Curator: Indeed. By considering line, shape, color, and space, we reveal hidden layers of meaning within what seems, at first glance, like a straightforward portrait.