Artwork
Parisian Woman
Parisian Woman is an oil painting by Émile Bernard. It dates from 1914 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Western Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1914, this oil painting by French artist Émile Bernard portrays a solitary woman reclining on a sofa. The composition is anchored by her dark, long‑sleeved dress and a delicate fan in her left hand, set against a richly patterned wallpaper that frames the intimate interior scene.
Subject & Meaning
The figure’s relaxed posture, with her right arm draped over the back of the couch, suggests a moment of private reflection. The muted palette and subdued lighting convey a contemplative mood, inviting viewers to consider the inner life of the sitter rather than any narrative action.
Technique & Style
Bernard employs a restrained chiaroscuro, allowing deep shadows to model the woman's form while subtle highlights suggest the texture of fabric and wallpaper. The handling of paint reflects his post‑Impressionist background, merging flat decorative areas with a modest degree of modeling, echoing the Cloisonnist and Synthetist tendencies of his earlier work.
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of the National Museum of Western Art, where it remains on display. Bernard, who had previously associated with figures such as Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin, produced this piece during the later phase of his career, shortly before the outbreak of World War I.
Artist & collection
Artist
Émile Henri Bernard (French pronunciation: ; 28 April 1868 – 16 April 1941) was a French Post-Impressionist painter and writer, who had artistic friendships with Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin and Eugène Boch, and at a later time, Paul…
