Marginalia

A young Black girl sits in quiet concentration, her natural curls catching the warm light as she turns the pages of a small book. She wears a cream Victorian-style dress with puffed sleeves, the brushwork thick and luminous against the deep red velvet of the seat beside her. A bouquet of cream hydrangeas leans in from the left, soft and full, while the muted background fades into pale architectural shapes. The palette moves between buttery whites, rich burgundy, and the warm umber of her skin, holding a stillness that feels both intimate and timeless.