Artwork
Head of a Girl
Head of a Girl is an oil painting by the Realist artist Jean-Jacques Henner. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.
About this work
Overview
Jean-Jacques Henner’s Head of a Girl is an oil portrait dating from around 1850. Executed during the realist period, the work measures a modest size and is part of the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Museum, where it is on public display.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a young woman with auburn hair turned toward her left. She wears a low‑necked red dress, and her gaze is directed outward, inviting contemplation. The intimate focus on her face and the subdued expression suggest a study of personal presence rather than narrative storytelling.
Technique & Style
Henner employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, letting a soft, diffused light illuminate the sitter’s features against a deep, almost black background. The gradations of tone create a three‑dimensional effect, while the smooth handling of oil paint reflects his characteristic sfumato, softening edges and unifying the composition.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑nineteenth century, the painting entered the Brooklyn Museum’s holdings through acquisition in the early twentieth century. Since then it has remained in the museum’s collection, providing scholars and visitors with an example of Henner’s early portrait work within the realist tradition.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Jacques Henner (5 March 1829 – 23 July 1905) was a French painter, noted for his use of sfumato and chiaroscuro in painting nudes, religious subjects and portraits.
