In this work, I explore the stillness, tension and subtlety that I find so characteristic of my Olafique series. This time, I took a decidedly vintage approach: a room that feels like a lost photograph from another time, with greying greens, soft daylight and an analogue-looking vignette around the edges. The image has the look of an old collodion print, but constructed with modern techniques, digital paint textures and subtle colour edits.
The surrealism is in the details. At first glance, it looks like a classic interior, but you soon notice that the portrait on the wall actually seems to follow the girl. The gaze of the man in the frame is just a little too deliberate, just a little too focused. It is that small shift that lifts the image out of the familiar and evokes a story without voicing it.
The red dress forms the emotional anchor point within the cool space, as if she is the only warmth in a room that otherwise seems completely stilled. Her pose, the distance between her and the portrait, and the direction of the light together reinforce the feeling of a scene that you can sense but cannot fully fathom.
For me, this is an Olafique with a surreal touch and a nostalgic soul - a quiet room in which everything feels just a little different than it should.
Created by Arjen Roos with support from AI.
My work exists at the intersection of modern Pop Art and Expressionism, with influences from Modernism. Contrast, whether in light, color, or subject, plays a central role in my art. The color red is often prominently featured.
Each piece I create tells a story. I produce..
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