Le Confinement.

In English, to “confine” means to restrain, to restrict, to imprison.

Confinement in the French language means “containment.”

This is an example of how two words spelled exactly the same, take on different meanings in other languages. Such words that share a similar root, but the meaning is different are called “interlingual homographs.” The Latin suffix “con” means “together.” The -fin ending means “end” or “limit” in French. The two root words joined together create the meaning of “a boarder drawn around oneself.”

I will go with “Le Confinement” for the times we are living in with regards to staying indoors as much as possible and limited social interaction to physical distancing as the primary strategies to confine the virus, not to restrict the person.

The goal, after all, is to contain the virus, to “flatten the curve” so that the curve of infection does not take off into the stratosphere.

What times we are living through. The times have found us, so to speak.

None of this is easy. What we are seeing in our communities on a daily basis reminds us of the steep tolls we are paying—human and economic—because of this virus.

After the Bubonic Plague that decimated Italy in the middle ages (1347-1350) came the beginning of the Renaissance—the “Rebirth”—that would shape lives and societies by reviving classical humanistic thought, philosophy, literature, and art, for three hundred years following. Think the awesome storytelling beauty of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Think DaVinci and his “Mona Lisa” — two examples of artworks of the Renaissance that provoke visceral reactions because they speak of something divine and mysterious while captivating our imagination, and yet are full of humanity. The Renaissance was the bridge into the modern era built of creativity and enlivening humanity.

As the reality of the duration of this pandemic sinks in, and the adjustments we are all asked to make, while this becomes our new reality, albeit for a while—not forever — this is also turning into a creative incubation period or sorts. What are we collectively co-creating once we emerge from our cocoons? What bridge to what future are we building now?

It is really something to behold--to see everyone, not just the scientists and healthcare and first responders and front line personnel required by urgency to step up their service and ingenuity--but everyone in society having to step up and ask more from themselves--to adjust to the idea of containing at home--to be creative at connecting--to figure out how to be more resourceful--to help more people than one thought possible---to accept help--as we get through this.

And no one can do it alone. It has to be together. Interesting that it took a pandemic to encourage unison, but here we are. These days of pandemic will eventually be behind us. What comes next is being birthed now.

So, here’s to “Le Confinement”— to containing the virus so that we can re-emerge from this cocoon more rejuvenated and enlivened than ever before.

Mary Lamery is a lifelong resident of Seattle, Washington, USA and native of the Pacific Northwest.

Lamery paints regional landscape in a manner that leans towards 19th century French Impressionism. Her landscapes invite the viewer to add to the backstory of the composition through personal identification with the paintings and story telling of the experience.

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