Going Out

There is an intimate tenderness to Devon Sharon’s Going Out. It holds a certain universality that is difficult to put into words but easy to feel. In some ways, it is specific to the female experience. The weight of societal expectations weighs heavily on women and is often manifested in critiques of their appearance. I do not think a man can fully comprehend the conscious and unconscious calculations women experience when they dress for the world. Still, the action and social anxieties it entails are widely relatable. So much of our lives consists of the little quotidian actions and decisions we make alone. However solitary these actions may feel, they are usually (for better or for worse) inextricably tied up with the presence and expectations of others. Even our most personal and habitual decisions are frequently informed by the opinions of individuals or society and culture. While this is by no means always a good thing, it does remind us of the impossibility of total withdrawal. No matter how isolated and reclusive we become, we cannot escape the conceits of others.

I am deeply touched by the promise and melancholy of this painting.