If Trinity Santos, aka “in my experience the best way to get over pain is to ignore it and think of something positive yes this is normal”, aka “I have trauma related to sexual assault so I threatened to murder a pedophile on the job”, aka “my childhood friend killed herself “, aka “I’m an asshole to everyone lol”, aka “ugh I don’t want you to be homeless or whatever so I guess you can move in with me guy I met 15 hours ago, not that I want you too. you’re not allowed to say no.”, aka “you can blame your mistake on me, people hate me anyways so it doesn’t matter if I get in trouble” was a man, she’d be Dean Winchester levels of popular.
The caption reads: “Defeated by roses. Near Turin’s Lingotto station, along a lonely path, Miss Guida Concetta Rinino, 28 years old, who was bringing a nice bunch of roses to a relative, was accosted by an unknown young man. The young woman, rather than losing heart, defended herself with extraordinary energy, using the bunch of flowers as a weapon. So it was that the scoundrel, his face all scratched up, had to flee. (Drawing by Walter Molino.)”
Incredible. At a distance I understand how the woman might appear to be the abuser and the man the sympathetic victim, but the second you zoom into the man’s face the pink-cheeked rage- not remorse, or rejection, or embarrassment- not heartbreak or despair- but RAGE- the deeper story speaks itself into your suspicions.
And the bit where they’re HER roses? Almost a relief, but also sadder, as she will arrive at whatever event without them, or with them destroyed.
Do you think when the righteous anger and anxiety and annoyance fade, when she arrives at her destination- will her loved ones applaud her? Will she be proud? Will her hands shake? Will she walk home with company from then out, and for how long?
In this moment, she is provoked into anger. Anger is good- it appears strong. But look at his face. Would you put it past him to linger there after dark, in case she returns alone?
What story will HE tell, of ‘I was perfectly polite, but she didn’t even give me a chance- women like that, they’d swoon for a jerk in a heartbeat, but kind and flattering men like me?…”
I love this piece. It paints both stories while illustrating the power dynamics and struggles at play. This should be shown in art classes
