Artwork
Portrait of a Young Woman (Profil de jeune fille)
Portrait of a Young Woman (Profil de jeune fille) is a print by the Impressionist artist Aristide Maillol. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2011.173
About this work
You see a girl’s face in sharp black lines on bright yellow paper.
Maillol printed this on yellow paper to make the color part of the picture. The bold outlines and flat tone were inspired by Paul Gauguin’s prints, which Maillol saw in Paris in 1889. This is one of only a few copies he made.
Look up the technique called impasto next, it’s the opposite of these smooth lines.
Overview
Profil de jeune fille is a print by Aristide Maillol, characterized by a young woman's profile rendered in stark black lines on a bright yellow sheet.
Technique & Style
The artist employed lithographic crayon to achieve smooth, heavy outlines and a flat tone, evoking the aesthetic of tapestry, a medium Maillol was exploring concurrently. The yellow paper serves as a deliberate compositional element, contrasting with the dark lines.
Context
Maillol's work was influenced by Paul Gauguin's prints on yellow paper, which he saw at the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris. This exposure inspired Maillol to experiment with similar techniques and color choices.
History & Provenance
Profil de jeune fille is one of a limited number of impressions Maillol printed on yellow paper, suggesting it was part of a specific period or series of experimentation.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Aristide Joseph Bonaventure Maillol was a French Catalan sculptor, painter, and printmaker.
