Half-light by Bianca ter Riet

About "Half-light"

by Bianca ter Riet

About the artwork

"Half-light" captures the delicate balance between visibility and shadow, between presence and suggestion. The title refers to the contrast in the drawing: half of the face and hair is kept in deep shades of black, while the other half is subtly lit with white chalk and soft pastel shades of pink, beige and brown. This creates a sense of mysterious dichotomy, as if the woman is between day and night, between revelation and secret.

The use of pastel chalk on black paper enhances this effectiveness: the dark background allows the light lines and faint hues to sparkle, making the exposure almost tangible. The thin white and beige lines outline the face and accentuate contours, while the soft blush on the cheeks and subtle beige-brown tones on one side of the forehead add an organic and lifelike feel.

The title "Half-light" also symbolises the portrait's emotional nuance. The light on one side suggests introspection, silence and an inner world only partially revealed. At the same time, the black of the other half gives structure and depth, keeping the portrait powerful and layered.

As a whole, "Half-light" reflects the harmony between contrasts: dark and light, suggestion and clarity, subtlety and presence. It is a title that invites the viewer to dwell on both the visible and the hidden, experiencing the poetry of a moment captured in pastel crayon. Modern Abstract.

Created by Bianca ter Riet with support from AI.