"Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic"

- The Picture of Dorian Gray,
Oscar Wilde.

This book by Oscar Wilde mesmerised me when I was younger. It spoke to me on many levels, but what I particularly loved was how - in a strikingly modern way - it portrayed a nuanced and layered queer character.

Dorian wants what everyone else wants, he dreams and yearns like the rest of us.

With this painting I wanted to capture a scene that is both exquisite yet dubious. Is there a touch of melancholy behind his languidness?