This is an alla prima portrait study painted from life during a few short sessions. The model’s name is unknown to me. As the painting developed, the background evolved into an expressive depiction of a reclining woman as landscape, blending figure and environment in a dreamlike way. I was inspired by Oscar Kokoschka’s expressive portraits and his bold, painterly approach, where he would sometimes incorporate narrative scenes into the background. I tried to channel that same energy here, focusing on gesture and color relationships rather than precise detail, allowing the brushwork to carry the emotion of the piece.