Jacques Georges Desmeules came from Switzerland to Cyprus following an archaeological mission.
He married Renee Zirigovich and taught French at the American Academy in Larnaca and in Limassol. He was as prolific in his painting as in his writings about the island.
This pastel drawing captures one of the most conspicuous features of the Mediterranean region, elderly women dressed in black.
In the Greek Orthodox tradition, black is the colour of mourning. Once women suffered the loss of a close relative, they never changed into light-coloured clothing, even after the end of a sustained mourning period.
In theological terms, black signifies repentance for sins. As people, and more specifically women, grew older, the colours of their clothing turned darker. The kerchief signifies female modesty as it conceals women’s hair.
PNT-00151 > Georges Jacques Desmeules, Old Woman, pastel, 33 x 25 cm, 1924.
The 'Sneak Peek' series is supported by OPAP (Cyprus).
