The Invisibilisa


The Invisibilisa, a faceless Renaissance-style portrait, by Bonfelle

Part of the Byzantine Saga·See the full series

Part of Odes to Peace·See the full series

A moment of quiet disappearance

She sits like a Renaissance portrait, but she has no face. Her figure dissolves into a soft gray haze, as if her identity has slipped just out of reach. In each version I gave her something to hold on with: pearls, a glint of gold, a crimson flower that recalls the richness of Arabia. The adornments cling to her like anchors. They keep her visible, but they can’t bring her back.

I keep thinking about how many people we look at every day without really seeing them. This is my portrait of that kind of invisibility, the kind you can wear pearls to and still go unnoticed.

الخفيّة

تجلس كما في لوحة من عصر النهضة، لكن بلا وجه؛ تذوب ملامحها في ضباب رمادي ناعم كأن هويتها أفلتت من بين يديها. في كل نسخة منحتها ما تتمسك به: لآلئ، أو لمعة ذهب، أو زهرة قرمزية تستحضر غنى الجزيرة العربية. هذه الزينة تُبقيها مرئية، لكنها لا تعيدها. إنها صورتي عن ذلك الخفاء الذي يجعلنا نرى الناس كل يوم دون أن نراهم حقاً.

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