Celeste Groenewald works with oil pastel and color pencil to bridge the gap between traditional portraiture and the symbolic language of the tarot. In this 2019 drawing, the artist leans into a monochrome palette to emphasize the physical texture of the medium, allowing the dense shading to define the emotional gravity of the subject. The composition draws from the Three of Swords card, integrating its iconic imagery as a subtle layer within the human form rather than a separate decorative element.

The artist expresses a fascination with the tarot as a series of individual artworks, choosing to weave these esoteric elements into her own creative process. By focusing on the Three of Swords—a card traditionally associated with heartbreak and sorrow—Groenewald explores hidden realities and the physicality of emotion. The result is an ethereal representation of a woman that feels like a quiet observation of behavior, capturing a moment of profound, enigmatic beauty through meticulous pencil work.