In Violet Girl, Jan Böhmer reflects his long-standing fascination with Japanese culture and its
understated emotional depth. Inspired by one of his visits to Japan, the painting portrays a young
woman immersed in her own world, her gaze detached yet filled with quiet emotion. The scene
captures the essence of stillness and introspection that often defines Böhmer’s portraits.
The work recalls the atmosphere of 1990s urban Japan, where the solitude of everyday life
becomes almost cinematic. The figure seems to be waiting at a station, lost in thought,
surrounded by invisible noise and passing time. Böhmer’s interest in melancholic beauty emerges
through this suspended moment that feels both personal and universal.
Using a combination of oil, acrylic, and his signature black pigment, the artist creates a
composition that feels tactile and intimate. The violet tones suggest nostalgia and distance, while
the surface carries the energy of gesture and restraint. Violet Girl is a portrait of calm rebellion, a
meditation on solitude, memory, and the quiet power of emotion.