Both Uses

obscure
in
The History of Love
(Edited)

But, with a dreadful feeling, she remembered how it had been her who'd insisted that he publish the book. He'd argued with her, saying it was too personal, a private matter, but she'd pushed and pushed, softening his resistance until he finally broke down and agreed. Because wasn't that what wives of artists were meant to do? Husband their husbands' work into the world, which, without them, would be lost to obscurity?
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obscurity = a condition of not being known by many people
After Uncle Julian left, my mother became more withdrawn, or maybe a better word would be obscure, as in faint, unclear, distant.
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obscure = not easily detected (not easily seen, heard, understood...)

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Grouped by 4 Meanings

Definitions:

(1) (obscure as in: it obscured my view)
to block from view or make less visible or understandable

Although this meaning of obscure typically refers to seeing or understanding, it can also refer to situation where something makes something else harder to detect or as when a noise makes another noise difficult to hear. Similarly it can reference something overshadowing something else, as in "Her memory of her dog's death was obscured by her brother's death the next day."
(2) (obscure as in: the view or directions are obscure)
not clearly seen, understood, or expressed

Although this meaning of obscure typically refers to seeing or understanding, it can refer to difficulty with any type of detection as when something is hard to hear. It can also more specifically mean vague, or mysterious, or unknown by anyone. Much more rarely, it can mean secretive.
(3) (obscure as in: the famous and the obscure)
not known to many people; or unimportant or undistinguished
More rarely, this meaning of obscure can be used for:
- seemingly unimportant -- as in "I want her on the team. She always seems to ask obscure questions that reveal problems in a different light."
- humble (typically only found in classic literature) -- as in "Nobody at the table would have guessed of her obscure family background."
(4) (obscure as in: was obscure, but now bright)
dark or dingy; or inconspicuous (not very noticeable)

This meaning of obscure is more commonly seen in classic literature than in modern writing.
(5) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)

obscure in The History of Love (Edited)

obscure
in
The History of Love
(Edited)