Ebb & Flow 2018

Camilla d’Errico made "Ebb & Flow" sometime in the 20th century, layering blues, pinks, and greens in a swirling cascade. The painting feels like an outpouring, both contained and explosive. I can imagine d’Errico in her studio, maybe feeling a bit overwhelmed herself, channeling that emotion into these rivulets of color. See how the paint clumps and drips, obscuring the figure's face? It’s like she’s inviting us to witness a moment of vulnerability, but with a veil of vibrant, almost joyous color. That gesture of covering the face – it’s universal, right? We’ve all been there, wanting to hide, to disappear. But instead of darkness, d’Errico gives us this eruption of pigment, transforming what could be an image of despair into something strangely celebratory. It's like a dialogue with other artists who explore the body and emotion, but with its own unique, contemporary twist. Artists are constantly in conversation, aren't they?