Inspired by Paul Klee and the later works of Wassily Kandinsky, “unreliable lover” evokes tension, confusion, and introspection.
Skyler uses warm reds to invoke feelings of passion and romantic love, while the dark blacks and chaotic forms introduce a sense of conflict and unease. This juxtaposition captures the complex emotional landscape of dealing with an unreliable lover.
Further, the chaotic and ambiguous forms in the painting suggest the uncertainty and instability found in relationships with unreliable lovers.
The heart, though central and clearly depicted, is immersed in a sea of confusion and mixed emotions, with a gold hook stuck in it. The heart is also trapped in a gold box.
Clearly, our emotions can be tumultuous and difficult to navigate even in the best relationships. Love is not the "gold standard."
Skyler also uses lines and divisions that segment the work into different areas, indicating separation and distance—as if the relationship is broken into pieces that do not quite fit together harmoniously.
However, despite the troubling theme, there is a hint of humor at the left edge of the composition. A foot and a few fingers from a cheap print of "La Lettre d'amour, "created by the French painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard can be glimpsed as if behind a bedroom door left a crack open.
Fragonard, in contrast, was known for his soft colors, intricate details, and themes of love and romance.
