Nellijas Darkēvičas portrets. 1970

Guntis Strupulis painted this portrait, Nellijas Darkēvičas portrets, with what looks like oil on canvas. The brushwork is smooth, creating soft transitions between colors. Look at her face, the soft pinks and gentle shadows suggest the way light falls, it’s all very subtle. I wonder what Strupulis was thinking as he built up these layers? Maybe he aimed to capture not just the likeness of the sitter but also her inner presence. The muted palette—earthy browns, soft grays, and subtle blues—creates a contemplative atmosphere. The way the light catches on the two lemons in her hand is wonderful. Painters are constantly responding to the work of others, an ongoing dialogue across time. Strupulis probably looked at a lot of art. This portrait reminds us that painting is a conversation, a way of understanding and interpreting the world through a very personal lens. It’s like they’re all saying: “Hey, look at this! What do you think?”