rolina nell

The Water Bucket series consists of paintings in egg-tempera on linen and drawings in charcoal on paper.

Her use of accessories, clothing and other details follows on from an art-historical convention. In Christian iconography, for instance, the saints are identifiable by their attributes, among other things. Rolina Nell also subtly incorporates typifying accessories. As contemporary attributes, in a general sense, these reveal something about the presumed personality of the women. On a deeper level, the serenity of the life-sized paintings conveys something of the mystical power reminiscent of old frescos and images of saints.

Reflection on Rolina’s paintings Lida Bonnema, art historian / visual arts reviewer (28 December 2009).