Josephine

Josephine is a mixed media work, with multiple layers of collage papers, inks and acrylic paint. Words from a love letter (below) are written into the painting by me – I originally had asemic writing in that place, but upon reading these words had to put them into the composition instead.

Josephine’s title was inspired by a love letter from Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine:

A few days ago I thought I loved you; but since I last saw you, I feel I love you a thousand times more. All the time I have known you, I adore you more each day; that just shows you how wrong was La Bruyere’s maxim that love comes all at once. Everything in nature has its own life and different stages of growth. I beg you, let me see some of your faults: be less beautiful, less graceful, less good…

This painting went through so many stages / layers, and I liked each one but kept wanting more. With each layer, I loved it a little more, and the words from the love letter seemed to suit her.