My last cigarette

Visual Description

A half-length portrait of a woman in close-up: dark hair, a clear gaze, red lips—a slim cigarette emphasizes her bearing. The rust-red coat with its turned-up collar sets velvety warm tones against a cool, light blue background woven with fine handwriting. On the left, a small harlequin pennant floats like a poetic prop.

Artistic Interpretation

The picture captures the moment of a decision. Between composure and a gesture of farewell, a quiet portrait of self-determination takes shape: one last drag, then a new beginning. The harlequin appears as a reminder of recklessness and play—a counterpoint to the figure’s focused calm.

Art-Historical Context

The clear figure in front of a flat background recalls the strategies of New Objectivity and the aesthetics of editorial photography. Scattered writing and the symbolic prop open up references to contemporary painting, in which narrative and portrait merge into poetic visual signs.

Exclusivity

A one-of-a-kind work with finely modulated skin tones, velvety textures and a characteristic red-blue drama. The combination of precise portrait drawing, layers of handwriting and a symbolic object bears Christine Graf’s unmistakable signature style.

Collector Value

A concentrated statement piece about attitude, change and personal rituals—emotionally accessible and present in the room. Ideal for living spaces and practices, lobbies and curated collections that value narrative portraits with modern clarity.

More About the Artist

Christine Graf is a contemporary painter who combines classical techniques with modern expressiveness; her portraits, abstract and surreal works draw their strength from intense color and an unmistakable coloristic signature.

Internationally present since the 1990s and represented in collections, she is one of the distinctive voices in contemporary painting.

Condition Report

Condition: no visible defects. A detailed condition report is available on request.