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Lockdown paintings

2020 - 2022 


During the city-wide pandemic lockdowns in Melbourne I combated the monotony of being at home by enjoying small luxuries that then inspired a series of oil paintings and instant film photographs.

Featuring luxury items like jewellery, lingerie, flowers, and wine the works explore the genre of still life. Pushing and pulling between the public and private nature of the objects as commercialised and domestic items. The flowers and instant film are a nod to vanitas and a rumination on how we will look back on our memories of this time, experiencing days passed in seclusion.



 
A love letter n.3 (2022), oil paint on canvas, 40x30cm A love letter n.2 (2022), oil paint on canvas, 61x91cm A love letter n.1, oil paint in canvas, 91x61cm


Are you still watching? - after François Boucher (2021), oil paint on canvas, 91.5cmx122cm Harmony between (2022), oil paint on canvas, 91x61cm



A fleeting connection (2021), oil paint on canvas, 81x106cm Near and far (2021), oil paint on canvas, 101x76cm Fell away (2021), oil paint on wood panel, 25x20cm


In the morning I felt untethered, Isolation still life n.2 (2021), oil paint on canvas, 120x75cm An afternoon of dreams, Isolation still life n.3 (2021), oil painting on canvas, 61x91.5cm When love hit me like a wave, Isolation still life n.1 (2020), oil paint on canvas, 61x91.5cm





©2025 Caroline Esbenshade

caroline@cesbenshade.com
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Acknowledgement 

I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the country on which I live and work and their connections to the land. I pay my respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous peoples today.