The artwork titled “Vierge Marie” was created by Abdul Mati Klarwein circa 1970. It is categorized within the art movements of Fantastic Realism and Magic Realism and belongs to the genre of religious painting and genre painting. This piece is part of the “Visionary Psychedelia” series, which reflects Klarwein’s unique approach to visual expression.
Depicted in the artwork is a woman positioned in a contemplative posture, seated on an ornate textile that rests on a rocky terrain. The setting suggests a coastal environment, with the meeting of land and sea at the horizon. A predominant feature of the painting is the halo-like rainbow that encircles the woman’s head, introducing a mystical or surreal quality to the otherwise realistic scene. Her attire is a swimwear or body garment adorned with intricate patterns, which accentuates the realistic detailing in the portrayal of her form.
The artist employs a rich, vivid palette of colors, with contrasting tones that create a striking and somewhat otherworldly atmosphere. The stones on the beach are rendered with particular attention to texture and form, as is the sea in the background with its distinct line of green against the purple sky. Each element, from the natural landscape to the subject’s sunglasses, is imbued with a sense of heightened reality, emblematic of the Fantastic and Magic Realism movements that seek to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary through precise, often hyper-realistic representation.
Moreover, the work’s spiritual overtones, suggested by elements such as the halo and the title reference to the Virgin Mary, are juxtaposed against the modern, secular appearance of the woman, creating a paradoxical narrative that invites viewers to ponder the intersection of the sacred and the profane.
