Paige, aged 17
Vincent Van Gogh鈥檚 self portrait was painted following a period of intense emotional and physical suffering, especially after injuring his ear. His painting captures a moment of physical and visible pain. In contrast, my painting expresses quiet, internal grief; the bittersweet joy of a childhood memory now tainted by the loss of my grandmother. My piece reflects a pain that cannot be seen but is felt deeply. Both artworks tell a story of presence, lives that once were and still linger through image. Van Gogh painted a series of self portraits to convey the message of 鈥淚 was here, I mattered鈥, my painting shows 鈥渟he was here, she mattered鈥.