96. Michael Bise, Revival
Look close, she’s there. Top right, looking straight at us with a nonplussed, kind of exasperated expression. What does it mean to be the one clear-eyed individual in a sea of people with eyes shut tight? Everybody else is lost to whatever they’re feeling: their loud cries, their waving arms. Their pained, communal rapture. Everyone except for her, wondering how on earth she got here, connecting with us amidst the madness. We are all granted these moments of clarity, when we can either stand there and go along with the mob or make the decision to step outside the tent.
Too many emails? For instructions on receiving a weekly recap, click here.
This post is part of MFAH 100, a series featuring works from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in honor of its 100th birthday. 100 words on 100 works in 100 days.
What fascinates me about this particular drawing and how I am only seeing it very small on my computer monitor (presumably not how the artist intended..), I see none of the facial expressions you mention. All I see for quite some time is an abstract Jackson Pollock abstraction of tossed sprays of shape and light and dark. But, while far from artistic intent, hopefully is not far from the individual personality squashing nature of the scene, and the abstract melding together of characters.
Ah! For me, this inspires resolution as in New Year's ! Thank you, Rainey...Happy New Year