Portrait of Ophelia Dreaming

by Leni Kae (c). This painting is a self portrait, but also for a portrait of broken hearts. It captures that moment of the heart in rest. After lying naked, or bare in a moment of trust, the heart here is broken and fragmented. Like Ophelia who lies floating in the waters of her emotion, here she lies on ice. Her heart is frozen in rest to allow healing. The notion here is that when her heart has healed and can feel warmth again, the ice will melt and awaken her. In a way, the story is a little like that of sleeping beauty, but here she relies on her own strength and self healing to awaken, and not a man.