L'infante égarée (The Lost Infanta) by Marion Elizabeth Adnams (Interpretation and Analysis)

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L'infante égarée
Source: Art UK
Often when I look at Surrealist art, I find myself trying to construct elaborate stories to complement the images I’m seeing. The Surrealist style has that effect. It sparks the imagination and leads the mind into strange and dreamlike worlds. I think that Surrealism gained popularity not because it is unusual and shocking but because (good) Surrealist art taps into the psyche in a profound way. Although Surrealist art is almost by definition mysterious and bizarre, there is usually something familiar in a Surrealist painting, something that triggers the insatiable desire to incorporate the supernatural and unearthly into something that is understandable.

This is what I experienced when I first saw Marion Elizabeth Adnams’ L'infante égarée (which translates to The Lost Infanta (infanta is traditionally the title bestowed upon a Spanish princess)). Adnams was one of the finest English artists of the Surrealist movements. Although she has been largely overlooked by art historians, she is known today for her unusual outdoor landscapes. L'infante égarée is one of her finest paintings. It depicts a living paper doll, dressed in the elaborate costume of a sixteenth century princess, lost in a dark and leafless forest.

The scene is bizarre. It’s as if a child’s plaything wandered out of the toy-box and into the scenery of a horror movie. The doll’s paper fragility seems especially stark against the ominous backdrop. However, who or what the Infanta doll represents is unclear, and the reason that she is lost in the woods is even more ambiguous. It seems to be some sort of dreamlike reenactment of a stereotypical gothic novel.

Compositionally, the painting is interesting. The shadows cast by the doll’s skirt and the twisting shapes imply motion and energy, while the bright moon captures the viewer’s eye.

There is no obvious way to interpret L'infante égarée, but it is certainly an atmospheric and moving piece. The paper doll is a familiar figure for many who grew up with these toys, but its strange surroundings make the living doll alien. It is this juxtaposition of comfort and discomfort, familiar and unfamiliar that captures the viewer’s imagination.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.

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