The Lady with the Dark Hair
By Erin Bartels
This is a split-time book that follows Esther Markstrom, who lives in the present day, and Viviana Torrens, who called the later half of the 19th-century home. Ester's life has been dictated by her mother's artistic tendencies and their familial ties to Francisco Vella, a minor painter during the Impressionist Era.
Vella is a bit of a mystery, with not much known about his work other than the collection of works shown at the museum run by Esther's family. But we, as readers get to see Vella and his "relationship" with Viviana. Viviana can no longer return to her home. She is an orphan who, through a series of events, finds herself seeking refuge and escape. We get to experience Viviana's journey as she discovers herself and the world through the eyes of an artist.
Both these timelines are brought together as Esther begins a journey for answers, thanks to questions raised by her former professor. Who painted The Lady with the Dark Hair? Was it her ancestor as her family has long believed? Or was it another? But this journey will do more than answer questions about the past. It will help Esther discover truths about herself that she's never had the luxury to explore.
I love duel timelines and the way the story unfolds, revealing bits and pieces of the mystery. And there are so many facets that draw one attention to the world of art. I found the process of making paint in the late 1800s fascinating. I have to be honest, I had never before given any thought as to where paint came from. In my limited experience, it comes from a tube or a small pot. Overall, I would say, this was a good read. There's a mystery and a touch of romance, but nothing to keep you up all night. If you want a book you can read leisurely without the tension that suspense causes, you will love this book.
I was provided a complementary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
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From the Publisher
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| We Hope for Better Things | The Words between Us | All That We Carried | The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water | Everything Is Just Beginning | The Lady with the Dark Hair | |
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| Price | $10.49 | $13.52 | $9.49 | $10.95 | $12.50 | $11.99 |
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Reviews with images
Impactful dual-timeline novel about women, identity, life and art
Esther has been caring for her mom who struggles with mental illness for the last two decades, since she graduated from college. She also runs their family-owned art museum, which is becoming less and less popular. Her joy in life stems from her own occasional foray into painting, and on the family connection to her forebear, painter Francisco Vella.In 1879, Viviana has already lived a lifetime's worth of adventure, though she's only in her twenties, with a secret that could threaten her life if it got out. She is a servant girl for the family of a painter. And one day, she ends up as his model--alongside Vella (who's not famous yet). After he leaves, Viviana is drawn further into the world of art; first, as a model, then as a painter herself. But that secret is still chasing her.These two lives, spread out across continents and centuries, examine what it means to be an artist. A woman. To be...what one was designed to be. And these stories are told within the heady time of the Impressionists; with its beautiful vocabulary of art and artists. Meaningful and wonderful read.I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads. All opinions are my own.
