Nimbus 

Troy Brooks created this evocative painting titled "Nimbus" sometime in the 21st century. It depicts a stylized woman lying supine with a cloud of dark ink suspended above her mouth. Brooks is a contemporary Canadian artist whose work often features female figures in surreal and unsettling scenarios, tapping into a lineage of art that blends the aesthetics of fashion illustration with the darker impulses of gothic and surrealist art. Notice how the subject's pale skin and stylized features, combined with the dark cloud and skeletal jewelry, create a sense of unease and vulnerability. The "Nimbus" calls forth questions about the nature of beauty, the representation of women, and the darker aspects of the human experience. The image also reminds us that art is always shaped by the social and cultural contexts in which it is created, and that by exploring these contexts, we can gain a deeper understanding of the artwork's meaning and significance.