original figure oil paintings In the mirror2

In the mirror2

1680 $

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.

Inches: x in
Size without the frame: x cm
Country: China
Date: 2019
Materials: Oil paint on linen/board
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.

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Reference view

Figure oil paint canvas painting a girl with pink hair

oil painting a pink girl

Artwork Interpretation

In terms of composition, the figure is at the core of the picture. The animal beside her, the leaves in the background, and the yellow border echo each other, as if creating a nested "picture - in - picture" effect. It brings to mind Vermeer's exquisite control of the picture order. By using a simple layout to focus on the subject and expanding the visual layers with surrounding elements, it guides viewers to gaze at the figure and the emotions behind the picture.

The use of color is highly expressive. The figure's pink hair is particularly striking against the dark clothing and background. The yellow border, like a highlight, brightens the overall atmosphere, similar to Bonnard's subjective treatment of colors. Abandoning the inherent colors of realism, it uses color collisions to convey emotions. The interweaving of pink and black, yellow and blue not only highlights the youthful characteristics of the figure but also creates a mysterious and dreamy artistic conception, making color a carrier of emotions.

The brushwork technique combines realism and flexibility. The flowing hair and the delicate folds of the clothing anchor the realistic skills, while the spontaneous outlining of the background leaves and the animal adds a freehand and unrestrained touch. It can be compared to Sargent's handling of texture and light and shadow in portrait paintings. By using different brushwork rhythms to distinguish the subject and the foil, it enhances the vividness and sense of breath of the picture, making the figure seem to step out of the painting, vivid and full of warmth.

In terms of content and theme, it unfolds around "in the mirror", which is not only a physical mirror image but also a spiritual mirror. The figure holds an animal, and the background leaves spread out, as if presenting a dialogue between the self and nature, reality and fantasy. It coincides with Frida Kahlo's exploration of self - existence in her works. By using personalized symbols to construct a spiritual field and excavating the hidden inner world through daily elements, it is a poetic presentation of individual emotions and the spiritual world.

In terms of emotional expression, it is implicit and profound. The figure's drooping eyebrows and eyes, and the quiet posture convey lonely contemplation and gentle strength. The haziness of the background and the blending of colors seem to spread out the emotions, telling the confusion of youth and the exploration of the self. In the context of contemporary painting, In the Mirror, with delicate brushstrokes and a unique perspective, reveals the poetic glimmer in the individual's heart, continuing art's eternal inquiry into human nature and the self, like a mirror of the soul, reflecting the common emotional tides of the creator and the viewers.

Recommended Works with Similar Styles

Frida Kahlo, Self - Portrait with Monkey：Realistic forms and symbolic elements convey emotional connections via animals.
Marc Chagall, Lovers and Animals：Romantic brushstrokes and dreamy colors build poetic scenes with animals and characters.
He Duoling, Woman with Cat：Lyric brushstrokes and light tones create quiet character atmospheres via animals.
Tsuguharu Foujita, Nude and Cat：Delicate lines and gentle colors add artistic charm to character paintings via animals.
Mao Yan, Figure and Pet：Subtle brushstrokes and implicit tones dig out characters’ inner qualities via animals.

FAQs

Q1: Who is the main subject of the painting?

A1: At the center stands a long-haired woman with a reserved expression and downcast eyes. She wears a black garment with wrinkles and dotted textures, giving her an aura that is both elegant and slightly distant.

Q2: Why is there a yellow frame surrounding the figure?

A2: The yellow border resembles either a digital screen or the outline of a shopping bag with handles, enclosing the woman as though she is being displayed within a modern container.

Interpreted as a screen: she becomes an image to be watched and consumed.
Interpreted as a bag: she appears packaged, turned into a commodity of material culture.

Q3: What is the significance of the animal in the painting?

A3: A gray fox runs across the lower part of the scene. Traditionally, foxes symbolize cunning, wildness, and escape. Its restless motion contrasts sharply with the woman’s stillness:

The woman embodies introspection and restraint.
The fox represents suppressed instincts or desires struggling to break free.

Q4: What do the blue background and floral shadows represent?

A4: Behind the figure are blurred outlines of flowers, appearing like faded memories or faint traces of vitality. Together with the fox, they evoke the realm of nature, set in tension against the artificial symbolism of the yellow frame.

**Q5: How does this work relate to “In the Mirror”?**

A5:

In the Mirror: the figure is surrounded by urban weight, pain, and alienation, reflecting social reality.
In the Mirror II: the figure is wrapped within consumerist and symbolic structures, while the fox and floral shadows suggest natural forces of desire and freedom still at play.

Placed side by side, the two works form a double reflection:

The heaviness of the external world (city, pain, estrangement).
The struggle of the inner self (nature, desire, freedom).

What should I pay attention to when buying an artwork or its derivatives?

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