Softened Contours by Bianca ter Riet

About "Softened Contours"

by Bianca ter Riet

About the artwork

Softened Contours refers to the way the figure in the artwork appears both present and absent - a body that is not completely bounded by lines but rather dissolves into its surroundings. The soft, almost fluid brushstrokes give the impression that the person is not defined, but is in a state of transition: between light and shadow, between form and space, between physical presence and inner experience.

The figure's pose - slightly forward, subtly turned inwards - reinforces the sense of vulnerability and introspection. The silhouette is not drawn tightly; it unfolds in soft planes that glide over each other. This evokes a sense of dreaminess, as if the person is about to disappear into the background or, on the contrary, is slowly emerging from a veil of light.

The combination of cool and warm tones creates a tension between distance and closeness. The cool blue around the head and shoulder contrasts with the warmer earth tones of the body. This creates a visual emotional depth: the head appears sunken in shadow - a place of thoughts, memories or contemplation - while the body is exposed in a softer, more human way.

Softened Contours is thus not just about the visible form, but about the process of blurring itself. It is an ode to the intangible: moments of introspection, identity that need not be fully defined, and the beauty of all that resides in the transition between bright and hidden. The work invites the viewer to keep looking longer, to be drawn into the subtle play of disappearance and appearance. Modern Abstract.

Conceived by Bianca ter Riet, visualized with AI.