Description
Chantal Joffe has created a body of work which explores the multiple attitudes and aspirations of women. Although she does not name her figures directly, preferring descriptive titles as in the case of this painting, her women are nonetheless somewhat recognisable. They are contemporary, fashionable people, reminiscent of the women we see in magazines and advertisements. In this painting, a woman walks through a park. Although she is very close to the viewer, in the foreground of the painting, her gaze is directed away from us and it appears as though she is about to walk straight past us. Her auburn streaked hair is her most striking feature and the most eye-catching aspect of the painting.

Chantal Joffe was born in St Alban’s in 1969 and began her art training at Camberwell School of Arts, London, in 1987. She then studied at the Glasgow School of Art from 1988 to 1991 and was awarded the Nat West 90’s Prize for Art the year of her graduation. She completed her post-graduate studies at the Royal College of Art, London, in 1994. She has exhibited widely, including a solo exhibition entitled Girl at the New Art Gallery, Walsall, in 2000. Today, Joffe lives and works in London.

This work was chosen to represent International Woman’s Day. In 2008, this annual event will be held on 8 March, marking the economic, political and social achievements of women across the world.