'VICTORIA, VICTORIA' - Oil

The artwork titled 'Victoria, Victoria' by Michael Prettyman is a painting with a unique circular format that breaks away from the traditional rectangular canvas, immediately creating a distinctive presentation. The subject is centered and fills the composition, a figure shrouded in a ghostly, flowing garment that drapes elegantly, giving a sense of movement and softness to the form. The garment's folds are rendered with careful shading, providing a three-dimensional quality, and suggesting the volume and shape of the figure beneath.

The color scheme is relatively limited, focusing on cool tones that range from the light turquoise of the background to the deeper shadows of the draped form. This monochromatic approach draws attention to the play of light and shadow, emphasizing the delicate gradations and subtleties of the form. The eyes of the figure are two dark spots, the only break in the otherwise muted palette, which creates a haunting focal point within the piece.

The painting’s smooth finish and the way the figure is set against a flat color background lends it an almost surreal or otherworldly quality. There’s a serenity and mystery to the work, inviting contemplation on the identity and emotions of the obscured figure. It’s a piece that combines elements of realism with the ethereal, creating an intriguing visual tension.