Treatment

Last night I was out at a bar when an acquaintance opened up a portfolio of his work that he’d brought by. In a previous incarnation he’d been a graphic artist and had recently taken up the craft again. He was very proud of the current piece he was working on, a digitally reworked photo of his wife, transforming a photo of her into a Klimt-like vision, albeit with pastels rather than jewel tones.

Although well executed, I just didn’t get it. His wife is a former model with fantastic bone structure but the treatment didn’t seem fitting. She’s recently fully recovered from a battle with cancer and this was the first time I’d seen her with the spark in her eyes since undergoing treatment. Perhaps it’s just me but I found the return of her laugh and regained ease much more beautiful than the imperious, idealized version he was creating.