British painter Mary Jane Ansell paints in oils subdued realism depicting young women in aristocratic settings. These paintings hint at a militarist history that strongly imbues the old British Empire. “The appearance of objects such as a flag, mask, toy soldier, globe, and army uniforms expand the personal scope of the paintings into a wider narrative, providing an interesting link to themes of history, war, and patriotism.” (Zhang). The predominately soft colors used are in stark contrast to the bold red, blue and gold used to define the military history invoked. The young women in finery (feminine) clashes with the military regalia worn by the women (masculine) in a visual culture of soft idealism conflicting with hard realism.
New Enchanting Oil Painting Portraits by Mary Jane Ansell
