Emergence from Twilight

This oil painting by André Romijn exudes a strong and captivating presence. The subject—a woman with a direct, piercing gaze—commands the viewer's attention immediately. The artist has chosen a restrained colour palette, dominated by earthy tones that emphasize the subject's natural features and lend warmth to the composition.

Romijn's brushwork is evident in the textured application of paint, particularly in the treatment of the subject's skin and hair, which provides a sense of depth and realism. The contrast between the sharply defined face and the more abstract, almost unfinished quality of the shoulders and background gives the impression of the subject emerging from the shadows, or perhaps from memory into the present.

The background is suggestive rather than explicit, with a play of light and dark that creates an atmospheric quality, evoking the feel of a 'nocturne'—a term often used in the arts to describe a night scene or a composition inspired by the night.

The subject's expression is enigmatic, with a hint of introspection or defiance that invites viewers to contemplate her thoughts or the circumstances that have led to this moment captured in the painting. Romijn’s technique, with the bold, confident strokes and the use of chiaroscuro to model the face, is reminiscent of the Old Masters, yet the overall effect is thoroughly modern.

The frame around the painting is substantial and traditional, which complements the classical feel of the artwork while also defining and containing the intensity of the portrait within its bounds.

Overall, the painting is a powerful example of contemporary portraiture that respects classical methods while asserting a unique and compelling visual narrative

‘Nulla in mundo pax sincera’ is a sacred motet (RV630) composed by Antonio Vivaldi in 1735 to an anonymous Latin text. In 18th-century, a motet was defined as a sacred vocal work with a non-litugical Latin verse. The tile of this motet can be translated as ‘In this world there is no honest peace’ or ‘There is no true peace in this world without bitterness’. Vivaldi’s motets were intended as show pieces for one of the female musicians of the Figlie di Coro of the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice. This piece was created for a soprano of exceptionally high range (from E above middle C to the B a twelfth higher) and is one of the most interesting of Vivaldi’s early motets for the Pietà.

‘Nulla in mundo pax sincera’ consists of three parts, Aria; Recitative; Aria, followed by a concluding Alleluia. This painting is part of a series of four.

Oil on Claessens linen, laid on wood
Original artwork by André Romijn
Size: 30 x 37.5 cm
Size hand-made frame 45 x 52 cm
Autograph on front – signed verso
Created: 2021

Artist’s description

This painting refers to the second aria of ‘Nulla in mundo pax sincera’. The whole text of this motet reflects in my opinion the world we are living today. But as this motet was written in 1735 and based on an anonymous Latin text, which could even be older, one may ask oneselves whether humankind has made much progress. Food for thought!

Aria

Spirat anguis
inter flores et colores
explicando tegit fel.
Sed occulto factus ore
homo demens in amore
saepe lambit quasi mel.

The serpent’s hiss conceals its venom,
as it uncoils itself
among blossoms and beauty.
But with a furtive touch of the lips,
a man maddened by love
will often kiss as if licking honey.