Exhibition "Melancholia imaginativa"

The exhibition "Melancholia imaginativa" reveals the distinctive features of imagery in Alexandra Belcova's portrait painting. The theme of melancholy has a long history in European art. "Melancholia" (translated from Greek as "black bile") was in ancient times regarded not only as a trait associated with one of the temperaments, but also as an ailment that negatively affects a person's thoughts and psyche.

The Renaissance changed the attitude of thinkers and artists toward melancholy, and it began to be valued as a sign of genius, a thinker, a scientist. The philosopher Marsilio Ficino gave this form of melancholy the name "Melancholia imaginativa".

Since ancient times, a tradition of depicting melancholic figures has developed in art. In Alexandra Belcova's painted portraits, it takes on an individual shade. The artist's life vicissitudes, her long illness with tuberculosis, and to some extent a tendency toward introversion determined the interpretation of the figures, which fits within the typology of "Melancholia imaginativa." In both self-portraits and portraits of others, Belcova emphasized a light mood of sadness in moments of contemplation.

The exposition offers a brief insight into the history of the concept of melancholy and the iconography of melancholic figures, presenting visitors with both previously unexhibited works by Alexandra Belcova and already known portraits that gain a new resonance in the context of the theme.