The Shadow of the Palm Tree by Bianca ter Riet

This painting features a woman wearing a straw hat, attracting attention while creating an aura of mystery. She is in a serene, dreamy setting with a soft pale pink background that evokes a sense of calm and wonder. Her orange dress, rich in colour and vibrancy, has pink sleeves that underline the playfulness of her outfit. Stitched across the dress are subtle but detailed images of palm trees - a tropical motif that seems to transport her presence to a sunny, exotic world.

The palm trees on her dress almost seem like an extension of her being, like a silent reminder of the soothing shadows cast by the trees' leaves. The black of her hat forms a sharp contrast against the warm, sunny colours of her outfit and the soft pastel background, making her figure both elegant and powerful. Her posture exudes self-assurance, but her closed eyes and calm expression also suggest a moment of introspection, as if she is between dream and reality.

The palm trees on her dress symbolise not only the tropics and the freedom that comes with them, but also the shade they cast - a soothing protection from the heat of the sun. The woman appears on an island of calm, surrounded by her own inner peace, as she connects with both her surroundings and her own thoughts.

"The Shadow of Palm Trees" captures the feeling of a warm, distant destination, a place where time seems to stand still and where the woman is completely in her element. The painting evokes a sense of escape and serenity, where the tropical atmosphere and subtle reference to nature set the tone of the composition. It is a moment of calm, captured in the shade of palm trees and the calmness of the horizon. Modern Abstract