Alice in Wonderland 

Valeria Duca painted this artwork titled Alice in Wonderland, with oil on canvas. The painting presents a contemporary take on the classic tale, offering a space that feels both familiar and disorienting. Notice how Duca uses a strong vertical composition of stripes in the foreground that cut through the painting to create a semiotic system where the familiar 'Alice' is thrown into chaos. The artist destabilizes the established order of Alice's character with a touch of adolescent angst, contrasting the soft, flowing dress with heavy boots. The book-filled shelves and slightly disordered elements reflect a broader philosophical concern, questioning the boundaries of identity and reality. The cup to the side creates an uneasiness as it seems almost too realistic, drawing our attention back to the semiotic system, or the world, to be more exact, of Duca's making.