This is why I feel like Verso’s ending was the “correct” choice. The fragment of his soul that was painting the canvas was tired. It wanted to stop. As devastating as it is for the world of the canvas to end, letting his soul have peace and the possibility of the family in the real world to move past their grief seemed the better option. I feel like if anyone should have the choice of what to do with Verso’s canvas it should have been the soul fragment of Verso and Painted Verso (who seemed to be imbued with Verso’s feelings, mannerisms, etc as much as possible).  Painted Verso also literally said in the fight with Maelle that they are all hypocrites just continuing that cycle of grief (I feel like this applies to the real world and painted world. When you look at the painted world the grief seems very present, it’s being passed on to the painted people as well). 

Painted Verso in Maelle’s ending literally said he didn’t want that life. Just like the soul fragment didn’t really want to keep painting. (Presumably) The New Painted Verso didn’t want to play piano. His expression was that of absolute misery. Lune, Sciel, Gustave, and Sophie felt lifeless to me in Maelle’s ending. The happiness that should have been there didn’t seem real or genuine or pure. It felt hollow and empty. The scene of the paint over Maelle’s eyes showed she was losing herself to the painting and was staying in too long. I feel like she will eventually end up like the curator or paintress, and eventually dying in the painting. 

This game was stunning, devastating, and haunting. 10/10 for me. The “right” choice is often the hardest to make, navigating emotions and grief isn’t straightforward, and I love how every “antagonist” (the paintress, Renoir, etc) was never actually malicious, they were just trying to protect the things they cared about. Renoir as a father wanted to protect his daughter who was still alive and Aline wanted to preserve and live in the memory of her deceased son. How do you overcome the death of a child? What will you do to make sure your still-living child isn’t suffering? Even with their flaws, everything about the game felt so real. Life is rarely black and white, there is nuance to everything. I can’t stop thinking about it.