MATTO - Le Repli - UNIQUE 1/1 - XL

Le Repli - UNIQUE 1/1 - XL

Original mixed media artwork on premium artist-grade canvas, unique edition 1/1.

The work presents a solitary female figure folded tightly inward, with the head lowered, one arm drawn across the face and the other wrapped around the torso. The compressed posture and overlapping limbs create a strong sense of protection, withdrawal and contained emotional tension.

The composition was originally drawn and developed digitally by MATTO as part of the preparatory process, then printed on premium artist-grade canvas and extensively transformed through direct physical intervention using acrylic paint, felt-tip paint markers and pastel. These manual interventions create surface texture, variation and individual marks that make the finished physical work unique.

Deep blue, black and dark brown lines establish the structural weight of the figure, while crimson, pale pink, violet, ochre, turquoise and muted orange accents introduce warmth, contrast and visual rhythm. The dense accumulation of line around the arms, face and torso reinforces the physical compression of the pose, while looser marks around the outer contour allow the figure to partially dissolve into the surrounding space.

Artwork size: 60 × 80 cm
Total canvas size: 70 × 90 cm, including 5 cm white stretching margins on all sides
Technique: Mixed media on premium artist-grade canvas
Edition: Unique artwork, 1/1
Year: 2026
Signature: Hand-signed “MATTO” on the lower left of the artwork
Certificate of Authenticity: Included
Presentation: Sold unframed and shipped rolled in a rigid protective tube

The detail photographs show the physical texture of the canvas and the individual hand-applied interventions.

The interior mock-up images are visualisations created solely to show the artwork in different environments and framing options. The artwork itself is sold unframed.

MATTO is one of two artistic identities developed by the same Portuguese artist, alongside BESSA. The artist’s practice began in the early 2000s, with participation in collective exhibitions in Portugal and works acquired by private collectors. After a long period professionally connected to visual communication, the artist returned to a more active studio practice in 2026, developing new physical works under the identities BESSA and MATTO.

MATTO explores a freer contemporary figurative language centred on the human body, gesture, tension and emotional presence through dense accumulations of line and colour.

Selected works, biographical information and current studio practice can be viewed at:

bessamatto.art

Keywords: contemporary female nude art, female figure painting, mixed media painting, original canvas art, expressive figure drawing, modern figurative art, emotional artwork, unique artwork