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Paul Verlaine

Eugène Carrière

1896

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Paul Verlaine is a 1896 by Eugène Carrière, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Eugène Carrière
When & what style?: 1896 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows a close-up of a man’s face and shoulders. His skin is pale, almost glowing, with soft shadows around his beard and jaw. The background is a dark, smoky gray, making his face stand out. His hands rest gently on his chest, and his expression is calm but serious. The artist used smooth brushstrokes to blend light and dark tones, giving the face a dreamy look. This style was popular in late 19th-century France. Check out chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow like this.