The work: Marie Widolf, Gertrude’s Blue Pumpkin Composition, 2022. Gouache and ink on paper, 41 x 36cm. Courtesy: the artist.
Sydney-based Swedish artist Marie Widolf finds herself a little lost in the kitchen. Despite her greatest efforts, it seems many of her dishes are doomed for failure. From this dilemma, Widolf’s alter-ego Gertrude was born. “Gertrude is a gal with plenty of enthusiasm for cooking”, explains the artist, “she aspires to become a great chef one day. But there is only one problem… Gertrude can’t cook!”. In Widolf’s many representations of Gertrude, we see her coming up with slightly alternative approaches to cookery. Blue Pumpkin Composition is part of the series Gertrude – Veggie Smuggl’r Extraordinaire, which focuses on Gertrude’s undercover antics as she tries to eat more healthily. However, as usual, her earnest efforts go slightly awry. Here we see Gertrude, bedecked in her trademark spectacles, curls and polka-dots, attempting to cram as many goodies on to a plate as she can, assumedly to streamline the process of healthy eating. The artist uses gouache to ensure the vivid colours of this vegetable smorgasbord are enticing, accentuating Gertrude’s humorous over-achievement. Through Gertrude, Widolf injects comedy into bright still lifes that make the mouth water, perhaps rendering Gertrude’s culinary endeavours fruitful after all.