A Portrait of Lilly (2023)

A Portrait of Lilly (2023) reimagines classical portraiture through a contemporary lens. With luminous realism and symbolic restraint, Georgina M. Cox captures quiet strength and purity, exploring how femininity and grace can coexist with depth and complexity.

⤷ When I painted A Portrait of Lilly, I wanted to explore calmness as a form of power. The composition draws from traditional Baroque portraiture but replaces opulence with intimacy. The figure meets the viewer’s gaze directly, poised but unyielding, surrounded by an atmosphere of soft light and subdued emotion.

The lilies she holds are more than decoration. They act as symbols of renewal and sincerity, long associated with both purity and mourning. Their delicate petals mirror the light on her skin, creating a conversation between fragility and endurance. The cool tones of the background heighten the contrast, placing the figure in a space that feels timeless yet contemporary.

Her expression was central to the work’s tone. It balances poise with something unsaid, the faint tension behind the stillness. I wanted her to feel fully aware of her own portrayal, as if she understands what it means to be seen and yet remains private. That quiet resistance gives the painting its modern edge.

The colour palette, dominated by blues and creams, was chosen to evoke serenity while grounding the image in human warmth. The light is painterly but deliberate, falling across her face and hands like a slow revelation. Every brushstroke was intended to feel tangible, echoing the texture of oil on canvas and the tactile intimacy of pre-digital portraiture.

Thematically, A Portrait of Lilly continues my exploration of femininity, stillness, and agency within the frame. It questions the boundaries between being depicted and being known, between historical beauty and self-possession. The result is both homage and reinterpretation—a study in control through calmness.

Ultimately, this painting is about quiet strength. It speaks through stillness, asking the viewer to listen to what isn’t being said.