Portrait of madame Léon Fontaine, born Laure Janné
1856
oil
From the collection of Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
1856
oil
From the collection of Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
This painting depicts a woman sitting in a chair, her body turned slightly to the right. She is wearing a dark dress with a high neckline and long sleeves, and her right hand is raised to her head, with her fingers curled around a strand of hair. The woman's dark hair is pulled back, and her face is turned towards the viewer, with a neutral expression. The background of the painting is a muted brown color, which helps to focus attention on the subject. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in the painting, drawing the viewer's eye to the woman's face and hands. To learn more about the artist's technique, look up Gustave Courbet.
