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Young Alsacienne Woman

Adolphe Braun

1871

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Young Alsacienne Woman is a 1871 by Adolphe Braun, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Adolphe Braun
When & what style?: 1871 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

A young woman in a dark dress and white lace cap looks straight at you. The background is soft and dark, so her face stands out. This painting shows a woman in traditional Alsace clothing, made around the time France lost that region to Germany. It’s not just a portrait—it’s a quiet protest, a way to remember what was taken. Braun made another like it for Lorraine, another lost region. To see how other artists painted national pride, look up *France*.

The story of this work

Overview

At the end of the Franco-Prussian War, Prussia seized much of the regions of Alsace and Lorraine. That inspired Adolphe Braun to produce a series of images of women meant to personify those lost territories. The images proved so popular that they were reproduced on souvenir items including postcards and ceramic plates.

Did you know?

This woman wears a regional folk costume from the French region of Alsace, recalling traditions that were disappearing under the impact of industrialization and modernization.

Read the full account in the museum source.