Here is the finished painting entitled “Rebecca in a purple coat.” The painting is included in my Foremothers Gallery. It depicts my grandmother Rebecca Rosenfield nee Kaplan. In this image, she is seen as a young woman, dressed up for an adventure or perhaps a date. Rebecca was my maternal grandmother and she died before I was born. So I only know about her personality and life from stories and photographs.
The Painting Process
While painting, I looked closely at the details in the black and white photo. As I engaged with Rebecca’s image, I imagined her energy and bright spirit. Here she was, stopping briefly to have this photo taken, dressed to the nines, and no doubt ready for a special evening with friends. All stories I’ve heard about Rebecca talk about her sparkly presence and joy for life. My mother has her positivity and optimism and I like to think it is also in me and my two sisters as well.
After my sister Susan showed this painting to my mother, we had a conversation. My mom wanted me to know that her mother Rebecca had most likely borrowed this outfit from her friend Rose. My grandmother came from poverty and could not afford much in the way of a wardrobe. Rose’s family had money and Rose had lots of nice fashionable things. Rose was generous and shared her clothes with my grandmother. What would we do without our friends?