Frau im Profil 2001

Manuela Sambo painted 'Frau im Profil', whose date is unknown, with an intriguing blend of colours and an emphasis on line and pattern. The surface has a matte, almost chalky feel, achieved, I guess, with thin layers of paint allowing the texture of the canvas to peek through. The face is rendered in muted yellows and greens, overlaid with intricate patterns reminiscent of tribal markings, while the body is a vibrant red, similarly adorned. Looking closely, you see the network of fine, white lines etched into the figure that give the painting a kind of raw yet decorative feel. There is a tension between the flat blocks of color and the delicate linework. This interplay between surface and depth, between the raw and the refined reminds me of some of Guston's later paintings, although Sambo brings a unique cultural perspective to her work, her mark-making evokes a sense of identity and storytelling. It's a celebration of ambiguity, inviting us to see beauty in imperfection.