Willem and Pauline Barbieri

Pauline, a poet from Liverpool, and Willem, a painter from Rotterdam, met in Italy in 1971. As they explored the artistic treasures of the country together, they uncovered a deep connection and fell in love. Willem, whose work was often inspired by the post-war Dutch landscape of his childhood, also found profound influence in Pauline. The two would create side by side, with Pauline reading her poetry aloud as Willem painted. Though she was unsure if he was truly listening, she would later discover that he had subtly woven elements of her verses into his compositions, reflecting the deep, unspoken bond between their creative worlds.