Marilyn Holsing Gives Marie Antoinette's Magical Femininity A Modern Touch (PHOTOS)

Marilyn Holsing's exhibition 'Further Tales of Young Marie Antoinette' juxtaposes the endless expanse of the imagination when a little girl is playing pretend with the stuffy claustrophobia of bourgeois femininity. When a little girl is immersed in play she is free to go anywhere, even if in reality she is bound to a very tight space.

Holsing lets viewers into Antoinette's interior in a strange realm where fantasy-meets-history, where gossip and fairytales are exchanged and mixed up. Her works echo of feminine pastimes from childhood to adulthood, from dollhouses to dioramas to embroidery-esque paintings.

Holsing explains her take on the modernized Marie: "She is still living at Le Hameau, the little play farm she had at Versailles. In my tales the revolution is a long way off if it ever comes." This collection focuses on the women subservient to Antoinette, mostly maids and ladies-in-waiting, and the gossip that ensues.

Enter Holsing's dollhouse of sugar, spice and gossip that may not be so nice. The exhibition will show until January 21, 2012 at Gallery Joe.

Comments

[chrysostomos]

01:02 PM on 01/05/2012

Excited to see that this is showing in my neck of the woods- hopefully I can make it in before it closes!

[bklynsparrow]

05:18 PM on 01/04/2012

I love it. Especially the dioramas.

[Caryn Banker]

05:22 PM on 01/03/2012

I love the dioramas/ cut outs. They are fascinating to look at. The placemats/ faux-embroidery are not as effective as a medium. Maybe it's just in photograph though; maybe in real life they are more impressive. Interesting idea too.

[chrysostomos]

01:02 PM on 01/05/2012

I completely agree!