Occasionally, we see a painting that knocks the wind out of us. When this happens, which is not often, we are compelled to acquire the work, simply unable to resist the siren call of absolutely great art, work that you cannot look away from. This is certainly what happened when Doctor Schmidt and I saw Suzanne Anan’s "Eye of the Heart.” We immediately concluded that we had to have this work and are delighted to share it with those of you who follow our collecting journey. It joins four other works by Suzanne that are already in The Bennett Collection: Legend, Step Right Up, Love After Love, and Venetian Red. Each of these paintings demonstrates the visual “OOMPH” that readily gets work into the Collection.
This huge (44” x 72”) work by Anan conceptualizes the human spirit of a woman as a blossoming rose, unfurling in its fullness. Like much of Suzanne’s work, it was inspired by a thought from literature, in this case the writings of feminist theologian, Megan Watterson: “Like a rose… symbolic of the true nature within you. Its gentle unfurling is necessary, so that the strong scent of your being may be released. In full bloom, the rose basks in the rays of light from the sun and knows its true beauty.”
While her background in graphic design clearly informs her strong sense of composition, it is also evident that Anan meticulously studies visual references to analyze shapes and colors, ensuring her figures possess a powerful, life-like presence. Her work also reflects the classical training she acquired while studying in Venice, where she learned to use lighting and composition to create a sense of drama, capturing subjects in a pivotal, often emotional moment.
You can see these techniques in practice across her other works in The Bennett Collection, such Venetian Red and Love After Love.