World Domination 2014

Rose Freymuth-Frazier's painting, "World Domination," presents a scene that's both tender and unsettling, painted with a classical realism that almost feels surreal. I find myself wondering what Rose was thinking when she made it. There’s a young woman, seemingly lost in thought, standing near a globe stuck with pins, flanked by two curious little monkeys. Is she plotting something, or is she just feeling the weight of the world? The light in this painting is gorgeous, almost theatrical, drawing your eye to the soft curves of the figure and the cool, muted tones of the globe. The painting has this old-world feel, but the way Rose handles the subject matter is so contemporary. It reminds me of Paula Rego, especially the way that she depicts female figures with such raw emotion and psychological depth. It’s like they’re both part of this ongoing conversation about representation and power. In any case, it leaves me with more questions than answers, which is probably the point, right?