Proust: Duchesse de Guermantes in a Park 1993

Editor: This is "Proust: Duchesse de Guermantes in a Park," painted by Maria Bozoky in 1993, using watercolor. There's a softness to it that feels dreamy, almost like a memory fading at the edges. The figure seems so still against the bright blooms. What do you see in this piece? Curator: What strikes me is how Bozoky uses these fleeting washes of color, particularly the fiery reds of the flowers, juxtaposed with the pale figure of the duchess. The flowers aggressively pull your attention from the Duchesse de Guermantes, in opposition to Proust's detailed character study. The colors hint at a potent, maybe even dangerous, undercurrent beneath a composed exterior. Think about the cultural memory associated with parks: sites of leisure, but also of clandestine encounters and social maneuvering. Does that chime with you? Editor: I see what you mean. There's definitely a sense of something hidden, even with all the brightness. So the bright flowers are a symbol that goes against the poise of the woman. Curator: Exactly! Perhaps the flowers embody passion or temptation, aspects of life carefully managed, repressed, or allowed to bloom. Watercolor, itself, is so telling as it implies an effortlessness that can mask precision, not unlike social etiquette. How interesting that these impressionistic washes create this tension! Editor: It's amazing how much symbolism can be packed into such a light, airy style. Curator: Indeed, Bozoky has constructed a thoughtful reflection on social facades through simple forms. Editor: That's such an interesting perspective. I hadn't thought about the watercolor technique itself carrying meaning. Curator: We see the duchess, and what is behind the surface. So interesting. Thank you for walking with me and opening a path to new meanings.