Surreal Account of the Unreal
The narrator in "Portrait of an Unknown Lady" is an Argentine art critic working in an auction house, affording her the opportunity to conspire in a network selling forgeries of portraits by the celebrated Mariette Lydis. One day the network collapses and she commits to tracking down the mysterious Renée, the legend responsible for conjuring up the counterfeit masterpieces. This investigation sounds intriguing, promising a look behind the scenes of the art world.
Early on, though, the narrator warns off the reader... "the stuff of my tale has slipped through my fingers, all that remains now is a little of the atmosphere; my techniques are those of the impressionist...I have only distrust for historians coercing the reader with the precision of facts..." And like that, anything goes. There are captivating sections and bizarre characters... but there are just as many seemingly unconnected tangents. You might find yourself adrift at times, hoping you have not missed anything in the confusion.
What is authentic, anyway... in art, in a narrative? This question materializes often here. Those selling the forgeries justify what they do-- claiming the real corruption lies in the practices of those controlling the market. The fake work can be just as meaningful as the original. Impressions can be faulty... whether you are appraising the legitimacy of artwork or judging an unnamed narrator whose irregular smile leads you to suspect her honesty.
Maria Gainza has sketched a curious piece of work here. I did not completely understand it any more than I would an abstract painting or the cryptic lyrics of a brilliant songwriter. "Portrait of an Unknown Lady" is an original experience that both dazzles and confounds. Not an exploration for everyone, but I recommend it if you are up for the adventure.
The narrator in "Portrait of an Unknown Lady" is an Argentine art critic working in an auction house, affording her the opportunity to conspire in a network selling forgeries of portraits by the celebrated Mariette Lydis. One day the network collapses and she commits to tracking down the mysterious Renée, the legend responsible for conjuring up the counterfeit masterpieces. This investigation sounds intriguing, promising a look behind the scenes of the art world.
Early on, though, the narrator warns off the reader... "the stuff of my tale has slipped through my fingers, all that remains now is a little of the atmosphere; my techniques are those of the impressionist...I have only distrust for historians coercing the reader with the precision of facts..." And like that, anything goes. There are captivating sections and bizarre characters... but there are just as many seemingly unconnected tangents. You might find yourself adrift at times, hoping you have not missed anything in the confusion.
What is authentic, anyway... in art, in a narrative? This question materializes often here. Those selling the forgeries justify what they do-- claiming the real corruption lies in the practices of those controlling the market. The fake work can be just as meaningful as the original. Impressions can be faulty... whether you are appraising the legitimacy of artwork or judging an unnamed narrator whose irregular smile leads you to suspect her honesty.
Maria Gainza has sketched a curious piece of work here. I did not completely understand it any more than I would an abstract painting or the cryptic lyrics of a brilliant songwriter. "Portrait of an Unknown Lady" is an original experience that both dazzles and confounds. Not an exploration for everyone, but I recommend it if you are up for the adventure.
