Additional Information

‘Peace’ by Sonia Mattson | Oil on linen, 26 × 36 × 4 cm

The image depicts a soulful young girl, her gaze direct yet heavy with sorrow. She wears a Middle Eastern headdress that softly frames her face, its folds echoing a sense of protection and cultural identity. Her expression is quiet but deeply expressive—eyes filled with grief, resilience, and an unspoken awareness far beyond her years. There is no overt drama in her pose; instead, the power of the image lies in its stillness, inviting contemplation rather than spectacle.

This work is dedicated to the innocent victims of war—those who have lost their lives simply because of where they were born or the faith they hold. It speaks not only to the suffering in Gaza, but to the countless conflicts across the world where civilians bear the greatest cost. The portrait pleads with the viewer to look beyond politics and borders, to recognise the shared humanity reflected in this young face. It is a quiet call for empathy, reminding us of our kinship with one another and the moral urgency of compassion in a fractured world.