In my own hands 

Curator: Looking at "In my own hands" by Valeria Duca, the first thing that strikes me is a feeling of constraint. There's something about the tension in the hands pulling at the collar. Editor: Indeed. Duca works primarily in oil paint, and her pieces explore themes of figuration, rendered here in a contemporary style. What intrigues me is the potent visual symbolism that emerges from this relatively simple portrait. Curator: Absolutely. Those hands seem to both hold and confine. We often think of hands as instruments of action and creation, but here they appear to be actively altering the figure's presentability. What do you make of that positioning, historically? Editor: I think that the position is key: In this case, Duca seems to invert traditional power dynamics in portraiture. The subject, rather than passively posed, actively adjusts the very image they present. What seems like mere constraint becomes an act of defiance. We should also mention that very little else is known about this work; the date it was produced is not stated and its current location remains unknown. Curator: It makes you consider ideas of identity. Is the act of manipulating the collar an attempt to conform, or perhaps a subtle rebellion against societal expectation? The absence of any date makes it so interesting; the meaning remains perpetually fresh, relevant, up to our present day. Editor: Agreed. There’s a timeless quality to the internal struggle it conveys. I’d also consider the neutrality of the background: the lack of context throws the action—the pulling of the collar—into sharp relief. It creates a visual language around personal presentation, hinting at control or perhaps the illusion of it. Curator: It's quite thought-provoking how an artwork lacking a specific date can still speak volumes about our modern era, revealing deeper and consistent cultural meanings. The psychological implications here resonate strongly. Editor: Precisely. By forgoing historical specifics, the artist emphasizes universal themes. A work of intriguing visual and conceptual complexity, don't you think? Curator: Definitely food for thought. It gives you pause, considering how we actively engage in our own self-presentation.