Peeling Onions: Homage to Lilly Martin Spencer

Image above left: "Peeling Onions: Homage to Lilly Martin Spencer" by Gabriela Gonzalez Dellosso, Oil on canvas, 36 x 36 in

Image above right: "Peeling Onions" by Lilly Martin Spencer, Oil on canvas, 36 x 29 in

A Conversation Across Time

Every so often, a painting becomes more than an image—it becomes a bridge between lives, generations, and inner worlds. Peeling Onions (Homage to Lilly Martin Spencer) is one such work: a dialogue between past and present, between the great American artist Lilly Martin Spencer and my dear friend Lori, whose strength and layered spirit inspired this piece.

The Muse: My Best Friend Lori

I used Lori as the model, a woman who has inspired me for over three decades. Like an onion, she is complex and deeply layered. Through the years, I have witnessed her many facets—strength, tenderness, humor, and drive. She is an extraordinary artist who dedicated years of her life to her family. She carries the same perseverance and quiet strength that defined Lilly Martin Spencer. This painting honors both women — one historical, one living — whose creative spirits mirror each other. She reminds me of the great women I paint: unique, focused, and determined to shape her own success story.

Honoring Lilly Martin Spencer

Lilly Martin Spencer (American, 1822–1902) was one of the most accomplished and widely reproduced genre painters of the nineteenth century. Her works were transformed into lithographs that adorned over a million homes—an extraordinary achievement for a woman artist of her time, especially given that women were largely excluded from formal art academies before the 1850s.

Spencer’s paintings celebrated scenes of domestic life, elevating everyday moments of labor, laughter, and tenderness into works of artistic dignity. With a keen sense of humor and humanity, she portrayed women as active, intelligent, and emotionally complex—challenging the limited roles society often imposed. A mother of thirteen children (only seven survived into adulthood), she balanced art and family with remarkable determination, becoming both the breadwinner and the creative voice of her household.

Victorian Textures and Modern Color

In my homage, I incorporated an authentic Victorian jacket with a deteriorated sleeve—its frayed texture reminded me of the delicate skin of an onion. Beneath it, I placed a hot pink blouse, a contemporary flash of color symbolizing femininity across eras—past and present intertwining in fabric and spirit.

The Quiet Power of the Knife

I was drawn to the raised knife in the composition, a subtle yet potent symbol of both labor and danger, resilience and defiance. It adds a quiet tension—an acknowledgment of the daily struggles women have endured, and the power that lies in their perseverance.

A Taste of Heritage

To infuse my own heritage, I surrounded the figure with familiar comforts—Goya beans and rice, a favorite from my Cuban-American upbringing. These foods connect my cultural roots to the universal theme of nourishment that is present in many of Lilly's paintings.

Mirror Reflections Across Time

I conceived the composition as a mirror image to Lilly Martin Spencer’s Peeling Onions, envisioning both paintings hanging side by side—two women, two eras, reflecting each other’s strength. The original Peeling Onions resides in the collection of the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, New York.

A Legacy of HerStory

In creating this homage, I wanted to celebrate not only Lilly Martin Spencer’s spirit but also the timeless bond between women who create, nurture, and persevere. Whether through art, friendship, or the quiet strength of everyday life, their stories echo across time. Peeling Onions (Homage to Lilly Martin Spencer) stands as a reminder that within every woman’s layered soul lies a history of resilience—and that through art, these hidden layers can shimmer once again in the light of recognition.