The Guitar Player 

Curator: Looking at George Washington Lambert's painting, "The Guitar Player," one is immediately struck by the intimate way the artist has captured his subject. The guitar becomes almost an extension of her. Editor: She seems suspended in a shadowy dream. A guitar can be the key to infinite imagination; but it is the lady who owns my gaze, there is an intense air that reminds me of unrequited longing and melancholic beauty... Does she even know the tunes? Curator: I see it too. Musically, the guitar often symbolizes harmony, connection. Perhaps here, it's the potential for that which feels just out of reach. Notice how the tight crop keeps our attention close to her, further intensifying this atmosphere. Editor: She definitely presents a Romantic figure. The dark backdrop pushes her and the instrument forward as if from a dreamscape. Her expression… oh, those flushed cheeks, I would like to get lost in the eyes that own this mysterious and intimate universe. What if she is an echo from a tragic love story? Curator: That chocker certainly hints toward high romance with an equal touch of tragedy. The stark simplicity makes it timeless. And it also leads the viewer into reading certain Pre-Raphaelite ideas as cultural background... a Rossetti portrait for example, where a woman and her accouterments embody the pain and beauty of love... Editor: Yes! There’s a narrative whisper, and Lambert is certainly working through that aesthetic. Even without the vivid colors typically associated with Rossetti. There is a strong touch of his essence regardless... Curator: Yes! It might not seem like much at first glance; but how she stares back challenges a reading. Perhaps that moment is now… And a new tune is about to emerge... Editor: A very evocative portrait that leaves me humming with unspoken melodies, wouldn't you agree? A dream in shadow and melody in waiting! Curator: Precisely. A perfect composition to remind us about how art and music resonate across time and across various individual backgrounds, cultures and aesthetics...