A Stage for the ballet, La Sylphide

Originally, this oil painting was inspired by a poem by Emily Dickinson about a flower growing in a forest. I wanted to guide the viewer through a portal into the intimate world of being a flower in the woods. B ut, when doubled digitally, this painting became a trip to a psychedelic garden with a stage and dancing leaves.

I see my paintings not only as an entry into the private world of nature, but portals into my personal imaginary world where anything can happen. In this case, we're in an imagined setting for an outdoor performance of the romantic and tragic ballet about forbidden love, La Sylphide.

The ballet tells the story of a man who is seduced by a beautiful spirit on his wedding day, and is so in love with the mythical Sylph that he leaves his bride to follow the Sylph into the woods. But when he captures the Sylph, her wings fall off and she dies. La Sylphide was originally choreographed in 1832 by the Italian choreographer Filippo Taglioni to music by French composer, Jean Schneitzhoeffer.

Stage for the ballet, La Sylphide is in my Bowers of Bliss portfolio.