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Essence in Portraiture examines intuition, expression, and process through a Feminist lens within contemporary portrait painting. Rather than striving for photographic likeness, this thesis seeks to capture the subject’s presence and humanity through expressive mark-making and conceptual decision-making. Visible revisions and layered textures document the painting process, allowing pentimenti to bridge the space between academic portraiture and abstraction.

Grounded in Feminist theory and informed by influential Feminist artists and writers, the project challenges traditional representations of women in art. The portraits reject objectification and the male gaze, depicting each model as an empowered individual in control of her own image. By merging two historically male-dominated genres, academic portraiture and abstract painting, this work asserts a Feminist presence within both.

Angela de la Rosa’s practice is rooted in exploring the complexity of female identity. Through portraiture she captures not only physical likeness, but also the lived experiences, agency, and selfrepresentation of women. Her work invites viewers to consider how women navigate visibility within personal and cultural spaces.

-Angela de la Rosa