Between Light and Lace (2025) Original Oil Painting by Zuzana Petrakova

“Between Light and Lace” is a personal and introspective piece that explores the emotional space between presence and concealment. Painted in oil on canvas, this 80×95 cm work was inspired by fleeting moments of observation — of children wrapped in daydreams, of light filtering through delicate fabric, of the way stillness can hold entire stories.

The subject, a young girl partially hidden by curtains as she sits on the window brim, evokes a sense of introspection and innocence. The painting was deeply inspired by my daughter. It’s also a meditation on the duality of childhood — the urge to hide and yet be seen, to be safe and still sense the world beyond.

Through a subdued palette and natural light, I aimed to create a contemplative atmosphere that invites the viewer to pause and feel the tension between protection and exposure. The choice of oil as a medium allows for softness and depth, letting the textures of the curtain and skin blur gently into one another. I hope viewers feel drawn into the hush of this moment — perhaps reflecting on their own childhood, the desire for solitude, or the beauty of unnoticed gestures.

Materials used:

oil

Details:

• Oil painting on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 80 x 95 x 2cm (unframed) / 80 x 95cm (actual image size)
• Ready to hang
• Signed on the back
• Style: Expressive and gestural
• Subject: People and portraits