'Malcolm' captures the enigmatic essence of its eponymous subject, a distinguished financial advisor. Commissioned to create a large drawing of him, Shenstone embarked on a series of complicated sittings that would ultimately yield a portrait imbued with profound depth and complexity.

In their initial sittings, Shenstone found Malcolm to be very composed in his presentation, leaving little space for the artist to access, and capture, his very essence. Despite her efforts to coax out his personality, Malcolm mostly remained impassive, offering little in the way of expression or movement. It was during their final sitting at the Connaught Hotel, shrouded in darkness and gloom, that Shenstone experienced a breakthrough. Placing Malcolm in a chair next to a desk, she illuminated the scene with light, unpredictably prompting the subject to very briefly and impulsively cover his eyes, revealing a unique body language.

Inspired by this transformative encounter, Shenstone completed her commission creating a triptych for the client that depicted him in various poses. However, it was the portrait of that very fleeting moment that, for Shenstone, held the true essence of Malcolm's character. Rushing back to her studio, Shenstone translated the intensity of that expression into the final piece, which she created for herself. This work sheds light on the artist's ability to read and freeze in time the smallest characteristics of her subjects thanks to her keen observation and intuitive insights.