Lady Eby 2007

Bo Bartlett created this striking portrait, Lady Eby, using oil paint. The composition presents a figure against a muted grey backdrop, compelling the viewer's attention. The light catches the sheen of the subject's white collared jacket and illuminates the delicate tiara adorning her head. Here, the realism typical of portraiture invites a formalist reading. The subject's direct gaze and the even lighting, combined with the muted palette, serve to destabilize traditional portrait conventions. The play of light and shadow is less about creating depth and more about flattening the image, emphasizing its constructed nature. This disruption of expectations extends to the symbolic realm. The tiara, typically a marker of status, feels oddly placed, almost questioning established symbols of value and power. Bartlett prompts us to reconsider how we interpret the signs and symbols within art, to move beyond surface readings and engage with deeper questions about representation and meaning.