kingsgrave:skolita:shiraglassman:jhameia:kakapokitty:kawaikunaii:knockingghosts:myartmoods:The Hesit
kingsgrave:skolita:shiraglassman:jhameia:kakapokitty:kawaikunaii:knockingghosts:myartmoods:The Hesitant Betrothed by Auguste Toulmouche (1866)I have always adored this painting. Having the central female figure stare with awareness at her viewer is a very powerful move, and something not often given to women in paintings. It creates an engagement with the viewer, she sees you and she knows you are watching her. She is no longer an object in an image, she is a person.You know she gon’ kill the man she has to marryI like how everyone else is totally excited the women are congratulating her, the little girl is so into being a flower girl.And she’s there in middle going “THIS IS SUCH BULLSHIT.”“the hesitant betrothed” there is NOTHING HESITANT about that expressionWhoa. This is really dramatic and unexpected :)The “Fuck This Shit” BetrothedThis is the ‘Isn’t It A Tragedy She Was Widowed So Young’ Betrothed, is what it is.…I assume there’s a good reason and that we know why the one staring at is us the betrothed one? Like, probably the subjects are known or something.Not necessarily the dress being white, I was under the impression white weddings were a new thing. (Also I want that dress now.)Because I’m staring at this and the first thing I saw was an entirely alternate reading which I will share with you and expect to be shot down with art history but hear me out because I’m basing part of this on that headdress in my Big Fat Greek Wedding that Nina’s (Nina, right? I’m not messing up names?) grandmother still had.And also on a vague feeling that the lady staring at us looks… Surprisingly old for a betrothed, to me. Maybe she just aged overnight? I dunno. (Or second marriage. Dammit killed the first one- aw dammit not again!)The one staring at us is the mother of the bride-to-be. The little girl playing with the flower crown is the betrothed. So that was my instant alternate reading. I’ve never taken art interpretation or art history, I just saw this and thought of something. Ready to shoot me down and school me because damn I wish I’d taken those classes. -- source link