Ritratto Della Signora Ponno 

Pasquale Celommi’s “Ritratto Della Signora Ponno” captures its subject with a direct gaze, set against a muted background, all rendered in oil. The texture of her dark velvet coat contrasts with the bright yellow fabric underneath, trimmed with black lace. The composition is structured around a play of contrasting textures and tones. The smoothness of her face and the delicate rendering of her features highlight a semiotic system. The portrait operates within cultural codes of status and identity. The artist balances the weight of social expectation with individual expression. Celommi utilizes traditional techniques to engage with emerging ideas about representation and identity. The focus is on the material qualities of paint and its ability to convey not just likeness, but also the social and psychological complexities. This intersection suggests an ongoing interpretation of the individual within society.