Dread

A solitary young woman stands at the center of the composition, rendered in a stylized, almost storybook illustration style. She wears a wide-brimmed, slightly floppy hat in muted brown, its edges catching the faintest glints of light. Her face is framed by straight, moss-green hair that falls past her shoulders. A soft, knowing smile curves her lips as she meets the viewer’s gaze. Her attire combines elements of a classic witch’s costume and a period-inspired dress: a high-collared blouse under a fitted bodice, cinched at the waist, with sleeves that puff gently at the shoulders. The colors of her clothing—warm amber for the bodice and creamy off-white for the collar—contrast with the cooler tones all around her. She holds a single lit candle in a simple, wrought-iron holder, its flame flickering with pale yellow warmth. The candlelight casts sharp, dancing shadows across her features and clothes. Behind her, a sea of shadowy forms undulates across the background: hundreds of ghostly faces with hollow eyes and gaping mouths, sketched in deep purples and dusty navy blues. These eerie silhouettes press outward, creating a restless, almost living texture. Yet the woman’s calm expression and the steady glow of her candle suggest quiet confidence, as if she guides light through the gathering gloom.