The Little Convalescent, Eastman Johnson. 1873-79. Collection of MFA Boston.

The seed of a new art project

As someone who has dealt with their own health crisis, I feel a particular solidarity with the suffering that is happening right now during COVID-19. And as a painter, I have been searching for a way to visually express this historic moment. I am about to embark upon a collaborative art project - one which I will share with you shortly!

During my research for the Painting During a Pandemic blog posts, I was reminded of a popular subject among 19th Century artists, the “Convalescent”. Merriam Webster defines convalescence as “to recover health and strength gradually after sickness or weakness”.

Growing up my mother (who was the daughter of a ENT cancer surgeon) would always advise me “Don’t push yourself too soon - you are “convalescing”. The term convalescence has fascinated me ever since, and so I have been particularly drawn to these 19th Century paintings.

A common thread among these paintings is of resting, as if hitting the pause button on life. The majority are not somber. They are peaceful and contemplative reflections of a moment in time.

Le Convalescent, Carolus - Duran. Circa 1860.

The subject of convalescing got me thinking about all the people who are dealing with COVID-19 at this very moment and especially those who fall into a category that they are calling “long-haulers”. Those who are baffling doctors with their extended convalescence of months of recovery. People that are suffering from long-term symptoms such as memory loss, tiredness, shortness of breath, chest tightness and pain, headaches, muscle pain, and heart palpitations. CNN television journalist, Chris Cuomo includes himself in this category.

The COVID-19 Convalescent Project

As I mentioned earlier, I am embarking upon a collaborative art project involving possibly, you and me. And this is where you come in!

If you or a family member is now or has been sick with COVID-19, I would like to document your particular experience convalescing with paintings created in the same spirit as these 19th Century examples. I want to create a modern day counterpart to these paintings because this specific moment in time, the COVID-19 Pandemic, needs to be documented for the historical record and because your particular experience matters. But I need your help to do it.

I am looking for submissions of photos of you or your family member’s recovery, Your day to day experience. I will be looking for submissions that I can build upon and make art from. I do not plan on copying every last detail of your pictures but instead composing from your images and improving upon them. For instance, this could mean altering the architecture of a room of adding or taking away objects, changing the color of clothing, etc. - in order to build and expand upon the overall design and composition.

suggested subjects?

You or your loved one resting in bed or on a couch
You or your loved one reading or engaged on your phone/ipad while resting
Doctors visits, waiting rooms
Tender moments that strike you during your/their recovery

PRIVACY

As a realist painter I do hope to use you or your family member’s likeness in the paintings, but I also want to respect your right to privacy and will not use your names or geographic locations in the titles if you prefer it.

SUBMISSIONS

I am looking for images that meet the following criteria:

Clear photographs with good lighting
No nudity please :)
Candid shots, not posed
Natural expressions, not “say cheese” grins

Those who are chosen as subjects will receive an original sketch of their photo. In order for me to work from your photo, I ask that you sign a release allowing me to make artwork from your photo/likeness and grant me the permission to exhibit the paintings when they are completed. As the creator, I will own the artwork and the copyright. The paintings will be available for sale at a later date after they have been exhibited as a body of work.

Will you become my muse? Allow me the opportunity to elevate your experience into a painting of perseverance. It would be an honor to be entrusted with your story. And I will approach it will all due reverence & sensitivity.

Submissions can be emailed to me Suzanne@lagoarthurstudio.com. Please spread the word and share this post! I am hoping for submissions from far and wide of people of all ethnic and social backgrounds in order to document as much as possible this global experience.

Thank you in advance for your support of this project!

-Suzanne

The Convalescent, Helene Schjerfbeck. 1888.

The Convalescent, James Tissot. 1872 Collection of AGO Ontario, Canada.

The Convalescent, John Gwen. Circa late 1910s to mid 1920s.