Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off

Inspiration:‘Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off’ is a multilayered painting that reflects themes of feminine disillusionment, psychological collapse, and the performative nature of identity. It's both deeply personal and culturally resonant, filled with symbolic elements. The painting features a woman surrounded by the remnants of what seems to be a failed or chaotic domestic scene. The palette is lush but sickly, suggesting both desire and decay. The title is borrowed from the Gershwin song but recontextualized to hint at irreconcilable romantic differences. I often use a mask on a nude figure to suggest that the protagonist is both hiding and exposing herself. This piece scrutinizes the pressure on women to be desirable even when emotionally distressed. There is an emphasis on emotional realism rather than anatomical precision. This vulnerability invites viewers to witness something more internal.‘Let's Call the Whole Thing Off’ can be seen as a powerful feminist expression of burnout, h