Sarah Bernhardt as Melisande

Sarah Bernhardt as Melisande

Paul Berthon

1901

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a woman’s face turned slightly away, her hair hidden under a wreath of flowers. The flowers are large, soft pink, and spill over her head, framing her like a crown. She wears a yellow lace collar that stands out against her skin. The artist used smooth, flat colors and clean lines, making the whole scene look like a dreamy print. The flowers and lace are the only details—no background, just her and the plants. Want to see more like this? Check out lithography to learn how prints like this are made.

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