Is This Just Fantasy?

Jeanette Getrost’s latest body of work examines the enduring influence of fairytale imagery and the emotional frameworks shaped by childhood media, memory, and fantasy. Drawing from references that range from Faerie Tale Theatre and Princess Diana to tarot symbolism and dream imagery, Getrost explores the tension between surface allure and underlying psychological complexity. Satin curtains, idealized dresses, and cinematic references function as seductive visual language while simultaneously questioning ideas of aspiration, illusion, and wish fulfillment. The recurring influence of the Seven of Cups tarot card — associated with fantasy, possibility, and the challenge of discerning reality from desire — serves as an underlying conceptual thread throughout the series. Working intuitively, Getrost followed moments of inspiration as they emerged, allowing personal memory, dreams, and cultural references to intersect organically within the paintings. The resulting works move fluidly between past and present, combining autobiographical reflection with broader explorations of longing and identity. In works such as The Fairest and Prince Charming, childhood narratives and dream logic collide, while paintings like Last Waltz turn inward more directly, using enlarged ballet shoes to evoke an early experience of loss and the lasting imprint of abandoned aspirations. Together, the series reflects on how fantasy shapes perception, memory, and the stories people continue to tell themselves over time.