Though thoroughly covered with festive regalia, the house maintains an aspect of privacy, even secrecy. One cannot tell where the entrance is, there is no clear path to a doorway, and there are no visible windows. All of this lends a sense of spontaneity and confusion that may really be part of the artist’s plan. For a person living alone, this barrier of fanciful constructions becomes a security buffer. The unpredictability of the home’s exterior announces that the artist is a man of mystery, a man that must not be underestimated. Turner, amidst his spreading of joy, is still a private person. He draws attention to himself and then deflects it.
