figure canvas painting of wall deco named Disturb

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Disturb

70 x 90 cmcollect

This painting was created in 2019. This year is the third year of college. I started to prepare for my graduation work, so I tried paintings with more concepts, depth and formal unity. In these paintings, you Being able to begin to see a more specific me. Such attempts did add weight to the work, but it was only a small step compared to the depth that would later come with the weight of life. Then came the COVID-19 epidemic at the end of the year, and the future that people expected changed its face, either urgently or slowly.

The people and natural objects in the painting form a stable order. Only then can we stabilize our sight and face the inner turmoil.

Inches: 27.5 x 35.4 in
Size without the frame: 70 cm x 90 cm
Country: China
Date: 2019
Materials: Oil paint on linen
Condition: well preserved

Creative themes and style | My works revolve around the creative concept of "The land of humanity, People on the land". The people in the painting are people in nature, and the lines, shapes, and colors are close to nature. The nature in the painting is nature in the eyes of humans, existing in interaction with humans.I don’t pursue a series of works with a fixed and continuous style. I hope that the style of the pictures will synchronize with the changes in my life and always remain oscillating. The performance of the work must be in sync with the development of one's own life in order to be Sincere and powerful. Ideas are later.

If you would like to collect this artwork or know more about the artist, please contact us.

Reference view

figure canvas painting

portrait original oil painting canvas

Artwork Interpretation

In terms of composition, the figure is placed at the center of the picture, becoming the visual focal point. The simple treatment of the background makes the subject more prominent. This compositional approach reminds us of Vermeer's emphasis on the subject in portrait paintings. By using a simple background as a foil, it firmly locks the viewer's gaze on the figure, guiding them to explore the inner world of the figure.

The use of color presents a cold and gentle atmosphere. The overall color tone is mainly cold, such as the gray - purple of the figure's hair and the cold gray of the background, creating a tranquil feeling. However, the red of the figure's lips becomes a bright color in the picture, breaking the calmness of the cold tone and forming a contrast and tension in color. Just as Munch used color to express strong emotions in The Scream, this painting also conveys the complex emotions inside the figure through the subtle changes in color.

The brushwork technique combines realism and expressiveness. In the depiction of the figure's face, the brushstrokes are delicate, precisely outlining the contours and expressions of the facial features, demonstrating solid realistic skills. When it comes to the treatment of the hair and clothing, the brushstrokes are looser and freer, full of expressiveness, adding a sense of vividness and layers to the picture. This is similar to Sargent's technique of expressing different textures in portrait paintings, shaping a vivid figure through the differences in brushwork.

In terms of content and theme expression, the title "Disturbance" perhaps implies the turbulent thoughts inside the figure. Beneath the figure's calm appearance, there seem to be hidden emotional fluctuations that are unknown to others. This exploration of the figure's inner world has similarities with Freud's portrait paintings, both attempting to explore the deep - seated spiritual state of the figure through the external image.

In terms of emotional expression, it is implicit and profound. The figure's calm eyes and slightly pursed lips convey a restrained emotion, as if suppressing the turbulence inside. The cold tone of the background further strengthens this lonely and quiet emotion, allowing viewers to feel the complex and delicate emotional world of the figure in the painting. In the context of contemporary painting, this painting shows the subtle emotions inside the figure from a unique perspective, triggering people to think about their own spiritual state.

Recommended Works with Similar Styles

Mao Yan, Portrait Series：Subtle brushstrokes and implicit tones convey characters’ emotions via background symbols.
Yu Hong, Personal Portrait：Delicate depiction and composite colors build characters’ spirits with diverse elements.
Chao Ge, Figure Sketch：Realistic brushstrokes and symbolic backgrounds explore inner depths via scene integration.
Guo Runwen, Portrait with Background：Delicate realism and metaphorical elements enrich characters’ connotations with backgrounds.
Zhang Ken, Imagist Portrait：Lyric brushstrokes and hazy atmospheres show characters’ qualities via environmental creation.
Wu Guanzhong, Abstract Ink Series：Freehand brushwork and black-white contrast convey Oriental mood via line symbols.

FAQs

Q1: Why does this painting evoke a sense of both calm and unease?

A1: The figure’s steady, frontal gaze meets the viewer with composure, while the surrounding environment—rendered in muted gray-violet tones—appears blurred and uncertain. The result is an atmosphere where tranquility seems to veil hidden undercurrents, producing both serenity and subtle psychological tension.

Q2: Why does the detailing in the girl’s hair feel so layered?

A2: Within the gray-violet base, the artist introduces delicate red lines and luminous highlights. The brushstrokes remain loose yet fluid, turning the hair into more than a realistic feature—it becomes a symbolic current, resembling rippling waves of energy. This treatment imbues the work with a heightened sense of inner vitality.

Q3: What is the significance of the “drooping white shapes” on the left shoulder?

A3: These forms resemble bell-shaped flowers, yet they also read as ornamental details of the garment. Their fragile, downward tilt conveys both delicacy and transience, amplifying the work’s theme of disturbance. Like fragile emotions swaying at the slightest breath of wind, they symbolize the coexistence of purity and instability.

Q4: To what artistic category does this work belong?

A4: Disturb 2019 merges aspects of contemporary Symbolist painting with the intimacy of female portraiture. Moving beyond realism, it uses background, floral motifs, flowing hair, and direct gaze as psychological metaphors. Within collecting contexts, it fits seamlessly into contemporary collections that prioritize spiritual and narrative depth, particularly alongside works engaging female perspectives and psychological allegory.

Q5: In what ways does this painting hold collectible value?

A5: Its significance lies not only in the refined technique but also in its psychological atmosphere. The interplay of cool and warm tonal layers, the confrontational stance of the figure, and the evocative title Disturb combine to generate emotional tension. Positioned within the contemporary art market’s lyrical and symbolic tendencies, the painting offers strong exhibition potential as well as long-term appeal for private collections, especially in spaces designed to cultivate quiet, contemplative moods.