Anna Wilson, a luminary of the Impressionist era, captivated the art world with her deft brushstrokes and incandescent use of color. Born into a modest family in 1947 in a small coastal town in Maine, pursued formal studies at the Portland School of Art, where she honed her skills and developed a unique visual language that would later define her work.
Wilson's work, primarily focusing on women in introspective states, carries the echoes of her predecessors, such as Mary Cassatt, while infusing modern themes of self-reflection and empowerment.
Oil and acrylics
The exhibition "ANNA WILSON, 1977 - 1985" offers a profound exploration of the artist's formative years. This pivotal period encapsulates the evolution of Wilson's signature style — a blend of bold color, light, and intimate compositions.
Featuring over forty canvases, the exhibition is curated to present a chronological journey through Wilson's early oeuvre. The selection starts with her earlier works from 1977, where the influences of her European travels are evident, through to her more confident and mature pieces from the mid-1980s.
Visitors are welcomed into Wilson's world with "Morning Light" (1977), a painting that captures a woman in a sun-drenched room, a theme revisited throughout Wilson's career. Progressing through the exhibition, the canvases become more vibrant, with "The Inner Garden" (1981) showcasing Wilson's growing penchant for juxtaposing indoor tranquility with the vibrancy of the outdoor world.
A highlight of the exhibition is the series of paintings known as "The Windows" (1982-1985), where each piece eloquently portrays a solitary figure near an open window, a recurrent motif symbolizing the boundary between personal space and the world beyond.
The exhibition culminates with "Reflections of the Soul" (1985), a masterful rendering of light and reflection that encapsulates the essence of Wilson's artistic journey during this eight-year span. The figure's gaze towards a blooming garden outside the window can be seen as Wilson's own looking forward to the future of her career, which continues to unfold with grace and vibrancy.
"ANNA WILSON, 1977 - 1985" is more than a retrospective; it is a testament to Wilson's enduring pursuit of capturing the ephemeral moments of life with a brushstroke that resonates with depth, emotion, and timeless beauty.
