Retour de voyage II 1985

Léonor Fini made this painting, Retour de voyage II, with oil on canvas. What's striking is how the artist might have begun with a very clear vision, and then allowed the painting to evolve through a process of layering and intuitive adjustment. I imagine Fini, brush in hand, carefully constructing the figure and background. The painting's success lies in the way the textures and patterns interact. The smooth skin against the patterned screen behind—a contrast that draws your eye in. I wonder if Fini was inspired by Old Masters but wanted to bring a modern sensibility. Her bold choices, the slightly unreal and theatrical elements, remind me of other women artists who were also pushing boundaries, like Remedios Varo or Dorothea Tanning. Ultimately, artists are in a constant dialogue, absorbing and reacting to what came before. Fini has created something singular and evocative.