By Candlelight 2013

Editor: Here we have Robert McGinnis’ oil painting, “By Candlelight” from 2013. There’s a really intimate, almost dreamlike quality to the way she’s posed. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes! It's a quiet dance between light and shadow, isn't it? The artist has woven this beautiful narrative, drawing us into a private moment, seemingly undisturbed. Do you sense the Old Masters peeking through here? There's a clear nod to romanticism, in that soft glow of the candlelight and the delicate, almost porcelain-like skin, contrasting with the starkness of the dresser and backdrop. Editor: Absolutely! I see that romanticism for sure, especially the way the light kind of caresses her form, but there’s a subtle tension with that very modern sensibility. Curator: It’s almost as if she's a figure emerging from a memory, her pose echoing classical paintings, but reinterpreted with a very contemporary eye. That picture frame resting beside her— what do you think its significance could be? Editor: Hmm, maybe it’s a reflection of her inner world, or the passage of time? Like a story within a story. Curator: Exactly! A layering of narratives that leaves space for the viewer to dream into it. It invites a sort of reflective intimacy, prompting us to consider what we bring to our viewing of art. Editor: That’s insightful. I’m starting to see beyond the surface now, noticing all these layers of narrative and allusion I hadn't picked up on at first. Curator: And that’s the real joy, isn't it? Art becomes this ongoing conversation between the canvas and our own hearts. Each encounter unlocks a fresh perspective.