For this series of paintings, Lisette Schumacher uses the shape of the arch to frame the image. The arch carries a long architectural history, dating back to Roman engineering, where it functioned as a key structural element in bridges, aqueducts, and monumental buildings. During the Renaissance, it evolved into a more refined and decorative feature, shaping the spatial rhythm of palaces and courtyards.
With the introduction of steel and concrete, the structural necessity of the arch gradually disappeared. In contemporary architecture, it returns as a deliberate gesture — a reference rather than a requirement.
By adopting the arch as the format of her paintings, Schumacher reintroduces this architectural element as a visual and symbolic frame. The curved contour contains the composition while subtly directing the movement within it, creating a tension between structure and fluidity.