Untitled
/Barbara Adrian
Not dated
American, 1931-2014
Oil on panel
Gift of Mr. Frank Hanson, made possible by Harmon-Meek Gallery
Florida Southern College Permanent Collection FP.2018.1.2
Who is this barefoot woman on a swing? And what is going on inside of her mind? At what does she peer just off-canvas? Inviting us almost to interrupt and interact with the elongated figure at the painting’s center, Adrian creates an engaging vertical composition, whose orientation positions the viewer in a one-to-one human relation to the swinging woman. With the shape of the canvas and the figure’s occupation of nearly the whole picture plane, it is almost like we are looking at ourselves in a mirror. Is this woman us? Is she aware of us? Look at her facial expression. Take note of her hands and the position of her feet. Examine her surroundings and even her billowing skirt. Return again to the figure herself. What stories lie within her?