Untitled
This painting is a recreation of La Belle Dame Sans Merci by Frank Dicksee, featuring an Albanian couple wearing traditional costumes, notably the UNESCO protected ‘Xhubleta’, a traditional Northern Albanian women’s dress.
By choosing a Pre-Raphaelite work, the artist aims to shift the narrative often found in Albanian art, which tends to center on war and struggle While conflict is part of the history of Albania, so are love and human connection. Kindness between couples is rarely shown, so she wanted to depict a softer, more intimate moment between Albanians as real people.
As an art student drawn to Romantic art, she merges Western portrayals of love with Albanian tradition, reflecting her own personal journey. The Xhubleta, with its intricate embroidery, symbolizes strength and creative expression.
This work explores identity: how it can be preserved rather than erased. By adapting a Western classic, she illustrates how cultures can blend through art, illustrating that tradition and belonging can coexist in a globalized world.
