Waiting

by Olaug Vethal

The painting on paper, created during a life drawing class, captures two figures in a moment of stillness and movement. The artist’s use of fluid, expressive lines conveys the human form with a sense of both grace and tension, as the figures stand in a carefully composed balance. One figure, positioned slightly off-center, leans forward with a soft curve to their posture, while the other stands in a more rigid stance. The contrast between the figures’ poses highlights the artist’s skill in capturing anatomy and the natural flow of the human body. The paper’s texture, with its slight roughness, adds a raw, intimate quality to the work, emphasizing the transient nature of the moment while inviting the viewer to linger on the delicacies of form, gesture, and proportion.

• Watercolours on 250 gsm paper
• 75cm by 52.5cm artwork size, unframed
• c. 1999-2004
• Original, one and only artwork
• Unsigned (certificate of authenticity given as usual)

Olaug Vethal (1946-2007) was a Norwegian artist who lived and worked in Germany and Malta throughout most of her life. Between 1996 and 2007 she taught art at De La Salle College Sixth Form in Cottonera, Malta and also from her studio. She participated in various exhibitions in Malta, Germany and Norway and her artworks are part of various art collections and represented by Christine X Art Gallery in Malta.

Vethal’s art transcended borders, captivating audiences in Malta, Germany, and Norway. Her participation in exhibitions added a global dimension to her artistic journey.