Experimenting with colour, the artist used a complementary palette of rose tones shaded with green to render the figure of Vera. Posed casually with one arm over a chair, she stares directly at us with an almost questioning expression. The vertical stripes of her stylish clothes contrast with the curving shapes of her hair and bent arm, creating a sense of balance and calm in this sensitively composed work. Characteristic of Varley's portraits was a preference for a relaxed, informal pose, completed here by the washes of colour in the background that add a feeling of softness to the picture. Moreover, this work is actually two portraits in one. The right half is noticeably different from the left. In particular, there is a change in colour between the two. This double portrait reveals different facets of the young womans character: her open, spontaneous side and her more secretive nature. Varley made symbolic use of colour. The blues and greens reflect the spiritual qualities of the young woman, while the touch of violet evokes her aesthetic qualities.