Carol in her Mother's Dress 1972

Joan Cassis made 'Carol in her Mother's Dress', and it feels like a memory caught in amber. The colors are muted, almost faded, like a Polaroid from another time. The light is diffused, bathing the scene in a soft, nostalgic glow. You can almost smell the perfume of the past. Look at the way the light catches the edge of the dresser, or the subtle shadows on the wall, these details shape the way we connect to this room. The texture of the paint feels deliberate, as if Cassis wanted to capture not just the image, but the feeling of this moment. There’s a realness in the slightly awkward pose, her arms outstretched, and in the way the dress hangs a little too long. It's about identity, about trying on different versions of ourselves, about the stories clothes can tell. This piece reminds me of Balthus, but with a more intimate, personal touch. Both artists explore the complexities of youth, but Cassis brings a vulnerability that is all her own. Art, after all, is an ongoing conversation, a way of seeing and feeling the world through someone else's eyes.