Portrait of a Woman

1894

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Portrait of a Woman is a 1894 by Jean-Baptiste Antoine Emile Béranger, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Jean-Baptiste Antoine Emile Béranger
When & what style?: 1894 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows a young woman with downcast eyes. She's wearing flowers in her hair, and her face is detailed. The rest of her body is not as detailed, with quick strokes used for her flowers and bodice. The artist used a loose style for some parts, which is interesting because it's different from his other work - check out the technique of sfumato.

The story of this work

Overview

Béranger is known as an academic painter of genre subjects. This pastel study of a young woman with downcast eyes conveys a sense of vitality and immediacy lacking in his more highly finished works in oil. While the graceful features of her face are articulated with tender detail, the flowers adorning her hair are summarily indicated with a handful of rapid strokes, and her bodice is barely suggested.

Read the full account in the museum source.