Tête de femme c. 1980

Léonor Fini made this intriguing “Tête de femme” without telling us when, or with what! It’s all process here, right? The surface has this almost powdery texture, which makes me think of pastels, maybe with some gouache? Look at the way the blue background bleeds softly into the edges of her dark hair, or rather, halo. It is not a photorealist portrait, and yet, somehow, it's deeply felt. I find myself drawn to the subtle gradations of color in her face – the gentle pinks and greens that give her skin a ghostly glow. It’s like Fini is trying to capture something beyond the surface, an inner essence maybe? And those eyes! They are so direct and piercing, yet somehow innocent. Like Frida Kahlo, Fini’s art explores identity and the female experience with such a unique vision, leaving us with more questions than answers, which is precisely what makes it so compelling.