Madame Helleu Cradling Paulette in Her Arms
1904
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1904
chalk
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Madame Helleu Cradling Paulette in Her Arms is a 1904 chalk by Paul César Helleu, depicting breastfeeding, held at National Gallery of Art.
A woman in a loose white dress holds a small child close, their faces almost touching. Soft chalk lines show the folds of fabric and the curve of the child’s back. Helleu drew this in just a few sittings—his wife and daughter posed for him at home. The red chalk warms the skin, while the black defines shadows without making them heavy. It feels like a quiet moment, not a posed portrait. If you like this gentle style, look up sfumato next.
