Spring Letter 2026
- Amandine Vincent
- Mar 16
- 4 min read
Resonance #2
Despite sometimes arriving quietly, the first signs of spring rarely go unnoticed.
After the long stillness of winter, spring carries with it a growing energy, not dramatic, not loud, but steady.
The word that comes to mind this season is resilience. Rarely spectacular, it is the discreet insistence of life continuing in spite of everything else. In nature, it appears in the patience of seeds that wait months before germinating, or in the perseverance of plants that return year after year. Perhaps this is why spring feels so hopeful: it reminds us that renewal is not about erasing what came before, but about growing out of it.
Looking Back ...
Since the first issue of Resonance, several developments have taken place at Echoes of the Canvas.
Pinterest has expanded into a growing archive of visual thinking. A wide selection of curated boards now gathers images around recurring themes that will guide future reflections and writing. Subjects such as the legacy of the Arts & Crafts movement, the representation of nature in art, and the words we use to speak about images and objects are just a few examples of the ideas currently taking shape there.
On Instagram, a series of micro-essays has started to appear. These posts are attempts to think through questions that surface in everyday life. By pairing images with language, these carousels open spaces for reflection, allowing art and words to illuminate each other.
There has also been a new publication this quarter, a piece dedicated to the strawberry as motif, symbol, and object. It traces its presence in visual culture while considering its resonance in contemporary life. From the beginning, the strawberry has been something of an emblem for Echoes of the Canvas, a familiar object carrying unexpectedly rich layers of meaning. You can read the post here.
Finally, a step towards greater language accessibility has been initiated. Some sections of the website have been translated into French, and the platform now allows readers to switch from one language to the other. This remains very much a work in progress, but it is an important step in opening the space to a broader audience.
... Looking Ahead
This spring also marks an important new phase with the launch of By Amandine, a multidisciplinary practice bringing together different strands of my work. Alongside my jewellery practice, this new framework will also introduce an interpretation and advisory practice for the wider world of art, craft and culture. The refreshed Echoes of the Canvas platform will also be accessible from there.
More information will be available on the new website going live on Monday 23rd of March.
As this is a significant transition, the coming months will be a time of settling into this evolving practice. For that reason, Echoes of the Canvas will move at a slower pace for a while. While written publications may be fewer, the work with images will continue, so if you follow the visual side of the project, keep your eyes open - there is still plenty to discover.
A Small Seasonal Offering
I probably enjoy giving presents more than receiving them, so here is a small selection of seasonal gifts, from me to you.
An object
A strawberry, of course!
Even if it might be slightly early in the season to enjoy them in the garden, there is no limitation to enjoying the freshly picked, deliciously tart fruits of Coorte's still life.
Click here to access a detailed audio description of this small miracle of a painting.
A colour
Yellow.
Often underestimated, sometimes disliked, yellow belongs unmistakably to spring. It begins with daffodils, but it also lives in the atmosphere itself, in the warm tint of sunlight returning after the pale whiteness of winter days. Perhaps this colour deserves a future reflection of its own...
A painting
The Flower Vendor by Diego Rivera. The version shown here is just one of the many variations Rivera produced on this theme.
A three-minute Smarthistory commentary on the 1942 Calla Lily Vendor can be watched here.
If you feel playful afterwards, try spotting the differences - there are many more than seven!
A question
When works of so-called high art circulate widely in museum merchandise, souvenirs, posters, and everyday objects, who owns art?
A quote
"If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.”
Creating is a way of being present to the world. For Emile Zola, it is about observing acutely, reflecting with unbridled sincerity, taking space, and making oneself heard. As the world goes through troubled times, these words carry particular weight.
A final thought
Beyond the immeasurable suffering they cause, the conflicts unfolding across the world also threaten our shared cultural heritage, while many artists find their lives disrupted, silenced, or endangered.
If this resonates with you, you might wish to learn about organisations such as the Blue Shield and Artists at Risk, which work to protect cultural heritage and support artists affected by conflict. As distant and powerless as we may sometimes feel, safeguarding art, and those who create it, can be one meaningful way to make an impact.
Until summer,
Amandine for Echoes of the Canvas
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