“Into the World There Came A Soul Called Ida" 1929-30 by Ivan Albright This is one of my favorite paintings, and after looking at it you might think that's odd. At first glance you see an ugly, almost grotesque woman seated while staring blankly at herself in her hand mirror. But to me, a painting isn't just a painting. Look at her closely. She sits at a vanity dressed in a rather risqué outfit powdering herself as she looks into the mirror. Her makeup is overdone...almost clownish. The expression on her face appears to be a sad longing. Was she once a striking beauty now ravaged by age, depressed over what she sees reflected back at her? Is this her feeble attempt at recapturing her lost youth and beauty? Also, look around her. There's a wad of money sitting on top of the vanity along with a smoldering cigarrette and match. And what about the various items strewn around her on the floor? What happened in the hours or minutes just prior to this scene? Could she be looking at herself with shame...or regret? What life decisions has she made that brought her to this melancholy and forlorn moment? This painting breaks my heart every time I see it. The artist, Ivan Albright, was an American artist renowned (and sometimes reviled) for his interperative style known as "Magic Realism." One of his most famous paintings, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and this painting are good examples of this style.
