The paintress numbers and the expeditions are all fully explained in the base game. The numbers being a visual representation of how much longer she can hold out Renoir, and the expeditions being a misguided effort lead by painted Renoir and Verso (the latter's creations) to save people after the fracture, atleast initially.
Outside of the painting, at least the base game's painting, would be the best direction to take it imo.
