A Smiling Old Woman 

Kun Wang created “A Smiling Old Woman” using oil. The painting’s structure lies in its brushstrokes and tonal arrangement. The background dissolves into a blend of browns and grays, creating an ambiguous space that accentuates the figure’s presence. Wang’s choice of color is strategic; subdued tones give way to occasional accents like the red stripe on the woman’s sleeve, drawing our eye and anchoring the composition. The brushwork throughout is loose and expressive, suggesting movement and vitality, while the formal arrangement of planes and lines adds depth and complexity. Wang challenges the traditional portrait conventions, emphasizing the surface’s materiality. The very act of painting becomes as significant as the subject. The semiotic interplay of the signifier, the paint, and the signified, the woman, generates meaning that transcends simple representation. The artwork invites ongoing interpretation, embracing the instability of meaning in art.