Soft Signals of Loyalty

Stefania Tejada

2021

Oil on canvas

100 x 80 cm

(Unframed)

The linearity of this painting brings our attention directly to the eyes of the female figure who stares intensely back at us. A female figure breaking the fourth wall with her gaze is a signature central focal point for Tejada’s artworks. The neat outlines of her body and clothes emphasize the serenity of the work juxtaposed to her harsh gaze, which creates tension. The tonal variation between the dark background and the lighter, tonally modeled female brings more contrast to the artwork. It explores the relationship between humans and nature. Both the figure and the surrounding nature are perfectly arranged to create an artificially peaceful scene. While Tejada managed to tame both, the resulting artwork makes us question the level to which loyalty remains natural and when it becomes forced.