The artwork titled “Susie Berns Aka. Susan Wolf,” created by the artist Abdul Mati Klarwein in 1971, is a portrait that exemplifies the art movements of Magic Realism and Fantastic Realism. This meticulous painting portrays a subject imbued with an aura of mysticism and otherworldliness characteristic of Klarwein’s oeuvre.
In the artwork, a woman with an enigmatic expression takes center stage. She is depicted with an ample cascade of voluminous, wavy, golden-red hair that dramatically surrounds her figure and flows beyond the confines of her body. A sense of the ethereal is evoked through her hair, which seems to contain elements of flame and water, reflecting the dual nature of creation and destruction, fluidity and passion. Her skin tone is naturally hued, contrasting with the supernatural quality of her hair.
This woman stands against a deep blue, star-filled backdrop, which adds to the mystical ambiance of the piece. The artwork is illuminated by pinpoints of light emanating from the stars, creating a sense of cosmic vastness that frames the subject. With bare shoulders visible, the subject’s midsection and arms are foregrounded, with one hand painted in warmer tones, possibly holding a sun, while the other hand is rendered in cooler tones and might be cradling a moon or cloud. This juxtaposition suggests a harmony or balance between opposing forces.
The lower section of the piece appears to include a serene landscape with the figure of a person, possibly engaged in an act of contemplation or interaction with nature, but this aspect of the artwork is relatively small and serves primarily to underscore the monumental presence of the female figure. Overall, the painting is infused with a dreamlike quality and a convergence of the human form with cosmic and natural elements, embodying the essence of the art movements in which Klarwein operated.