Valentine’s Day 2021 was marked by loneliness
for many. Just shy of a year sheltering in place, pandemic fatigue was
prevalent. The painting depicts the various trappings of Valentine’s Day
festooned with alcohol, marijuana, and pills. In the absence of companionship,
many turned to substance abuse. The ongoing opioid epidemic claimed lives at a
higher rate during the plague. The still life is set against a backdrop of a
scene from The Progression of Love by Fragonard, which incidentally was on
display at the Met Breuer Building while its permanent home was undergoing
renovations.
