Summer Mirage by Bianca ter Riet

About "Summer Mirage"

by Bianca ter Riet

About the artwork

"Summer Mirage" captures the essence of a sweltering summer day in which reality and imagination merge. A woman with large, reflective sunglasses appears on the canvas - her gaze averted, as if disappearing into her own daydream. The image is half recognisable, half faded, as if it is only briefly visible in the vibrating heat of the sun.

The composition plays with contrasts between sharp palette knife strokes and soft transitions, blurring the boundary between figure and background. Behind the woman, abstract areas of colour shine in purple, pink, orange and green, with accents of blue, white and brown bringing depth and rhythm. The colours dance like light reflections on water or the flickering of celluloid in old film footage.

The retro pop art vibe is palpable in the design: a mix of graphic simplicity and expressive paint textures. The sunglasses act as a window to another reality - summery fragments seem to appear in its reflection: palm trees, a patch of sky, maybe even a coastline.

In the foreground, the portrait dominates: feminine, modern, confident. In the background, she slowly dissolves into colour, as if the heat is melting her outline. The mood is airy, dreamy, yet imbued with energy.

Theme:
The work explores the idea of identity and illusion - how we see ourselves in the reflection of light, time and memory. "Summer Mirage" is not just a portrait, but a snapshot of a feeling: that fleeting, magical moment in which summer itself seems to breathe. Bold Retro. Pop art. Modern Abstract.

Created by Bianca ter Riet with support from AI.