Oliver Plehn - But Life still goes on XL-XL

Oliver Plehn (Germany, 1970)
But Life Still Goes On – 2020
Oil on canvas
100 × 100 cm

Painted in 2020 during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, But Life Still Goes On is a portrait of the artist's six-year-old daughter. The painting captures a very particular moment in childhood and in recent history: a young face shaped by a world suddenly dominated by masks, restrictions and uncertainty.

The characteristic pale area across the lower part of the face is not simply a stylistic choice. It reflects the physical trace left by wearing a protective mask during the summer months, while the rest of the face was exposed to the sun. This small, almost accidental detail became a powerful visual document of the time.

Yet the painting is not intended as a portrait of the pandemic itself. The child's direct gaze, calm expression and subtle smile create a striking contrast to the circumstances in which the work was painted. The title, But Life Still Goes On, points precisely to this tension: despite disruption and uncertainty, childhood continues, life continues, and the human desire for connection remains.

With its restrained palette, expressive brushwork and strong frontal composition, the work combines portraiture with a more universal reflection on vulnerability, resilience and the passage of time.

Details:
Oil on canvas, 100 × 100 cm, painted in 2020.
Signed by the artist.
The work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

For safe international shipping, the canvas will be carefully rolled and sent in a sturdy protective tube.