A three-quarter-length portrait of a woman wearing a patterned jacket. She places her hand on her chest, like the gentleman in El Greco’s painting. At the same time, the print on her jacket is reminiscent of certain works by Matisse. As in other works by Tenvik, the portrait takes on the quality of a snapshot due to the subject’s gesture, which she often imbues with a certain sense of movement—reinforced in this case by the glass of wine and the descriptive, familiar tone of the painting’s title.
Constance Tenvik’s paintings are inspired by people, dreams, and moments of everyday life that come together in maximalist, richly colored images. Tenvik emphasizes narrative, color, and the exaggeration of the features of the characters she portrays. Her scenes depict human interactions taking place in cities, blending vulnerability and glamour, with a focus on the details that make each of her subjects unique.