La jolie Cueillette 1919 - 1920

Gerda Wegener made this elegant composition, La jolie Cueillette, with ink and watercolour on paper. The delicate lines that define the figures and the decorative patterns create a sense of artifice. It’s as if the scene is carefully constructed, each element placed just so, and the colours are soft and muted, contributing to the dreamlike quality of the piece. I find the lines of the gown fascinating, they flow and curl like vines, and the way Wegener uses watercolor washes creates a luminous effect. It’s almost as if the light is shining through the fabric. The contrast between the precise linework and the fluid washes of color is really appealing, there is a push-pull dynamic between control and freedom that echoes the push-pull of making art. Wegener’s work often explores themes of desire, identity, and performance, similar to Tamara de Lempicka. The ambiguity of the figures, along with the rich symbolism, invites us to consider the different ways of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world.