THE ART OF VANISHING

Jennifer Jill Araya and Jarman Day share the narration of this poignant fantasy-romance. Jean is a young man in a family portrait painted in 1917 by his father, Henri Matisse, and Claire is a present-day museum custodian with a troubled past. Day delivers the chapters from Jean's point of view in a low, cultured voice filled with underlying youthful passion. Araya's alternating chapters from Claire's point of view contrast dramatically as she narrates in a bright American voice while cleaning the gallery and studying the paintings each night. When she feels Jean's eyes watching her, she realizes she can actually disappear into the painting and its world, escaping her stressful life as a single mom. The two become lovers even as they face the futility of their situation. J.E.S. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2025]