Carole Dakake Expressionist Portrait Painting

This is a vertical format oil painting on canvas, featuring an expressionist-style portrait of a young person with vibrant red or ginger hair, viewed in three-quarter profile looking toward the right. The work is signed 'DAKAKE' in the upper right quadrant, identifying it as a piece by the artist Carole Dakake. The artist employs a bold and energetic painterly technique characterized by thick, gestural impasto brushstrokes and a rich, saturated color palette. The background is bifurcated into deep plums and purples on the left, contrasted with mint greens and teal washes on the right, providing a dynamic chromatic environment for the subject. The figure is depicted wearing dark, structured clothing, perhaps a vest or jacket, rendered with heavy highlights and deep shadows that suggest a strong light source from the right. The facial features are defined with sensitive yet quick strokes, emphasizing a contemplative expression. The painting appears to be in its original gold-toned, thin metallic frame, which shows minimal wear. The canvas surface shows no immediate signs of cracking or flaking, indicating a stable paint film, likely dating from the mid-to-late 20th century. The overall composition demonstrates high-level professional craftsmanship and a mastery of color theory, typical of Dakake's emotional and atmospheric figurative style.