In last month’s Update, I told you about my visit to the village of Mougins in the South of France, and my inspiring visit to “Famm” the only Gallery in Europe entirely devoted to the work of Female artists.

Now I thought I would tell you of the second exhibition, in the same village and shown in conjunction with Famm. This was devoted to a modern present day female artist, living and working in New York, named Elizabeth Colombo.
She was born and brought up in France by her parents who were of Martinique heritage.

She studied in Paris and received her degree from the Estienne School of Art, and also the Ecole des Beaux –Arts.

Her heritage has influenced her work and she depicts the images and lives of poor black people, in the roles of their Masters! She doesn’t think the colour of a person’s skin should represent who they are, but she elevates them to a position of respect, by picturing them in the costumes and life of the people who once dominated them.

She was originally inspired by a Portrait she saw in the Louvre of Madeleine (1800) which was a very rare image of a black woman, also painted by a woman. This shaped her thinking about how black women have been depicted in art.

I personally found that her amazing technique, (in watercolour would you believe) reminded me of the Pre-Raphaelite artists especially of their depiction of fabulous glistening and shining fabrics in the dresses, curtains and upholstery, and their use of symbols and hidden meanings!

After viewing quite a lot of contemporary and abstract art in the previous exhibition, I was delighted to see Elizabeth’s return to traditional and detailed work, which I personally admire.

I came away reluctantly, and determined to find out more about this thoughtful and talented woman and her determination to give Black women their rightful place in Society.

Helena Anderson