If I Knew Then

‘If Only I Knew Then What I Know Now’ is such a haunting statement, it’s a story in and of itself that we can all relate to. As a title ‘If I Knew What I Knew Then’ redefines and adds context to the painting by revealing another layer of meaning. American artist Maggie Newman revisits her past and connects to her viewers in this 1997 portrait by subtly evoking the feeling of grief and melancholy without overpowering the work with emotion.

Style: In and of itself Maggie Newman’s painting isn’t much to look at, it’s an impressionistic, almost impasto portrait painting. She uses acrylic and oil on canvas to portray her message. This painting is evenly low lit throughout, yet there isn’t a definite light source despite an open window in the image. This lighting gives the work a sullen feel. Like much of the art at the Leeman Rattner, to the untrained eye, the time frame of the work isn’t obviously late 20th-century. If I Knew What I Knew Then has a late 19th-century impressionistic vibe. From what I know of the phrase, the title doesn’t have a
Subject matter: Based on the title of this piece I presume the work to be a self-portrait of
In my opinion Maggie appears to be alluding to something or someone in her past, perhaps even a mindset, whatever it is the story is left untold to allow the viewer to project their own ideas onto the piece. Upon analyzing this painting, I felt lost. Initially, what drew me to the piece was the sense of melancholy… What exactly she’ reminiscing about is left up to interpretation, I believe it is left without context to connect with her audience, to allow you to put yourself in her place. She is speaking to her past self through the medium of art. Although I believe her intention was for her audience to view and feel her painting in a primarily Dionysian way, I analyzed the painting with a more Apollonian