1923
From the collection of Ion Ionescu-Quintus Prahova County Art Museum
Portret de copil is a 1923 by Nicolae Tonitza, held at Ion Ionescu-Quintus Prahova County Art Museum.
This print shows a child’s face from the shoulders up. The background is dark, almost black, while the face is softly lit, with pale skin and faint shadows. The child’s hair is drawn in quick, loose strokes, and the expression looks calm but a little distant. The artist used light and dark to shape the face, making it stand out against the shadowy background. This way of using light is called *chiaroscuro*—a technique that creates depth with strong contrasts. Next, check out the technique: chiaroscuro to see how other artists used light and shadow.
Nicolae Tonitza was a Romanian painter, engraver, lithographer, journalist and art critic. Drawing inspiration from Post-Impressionism and Expressionism, he had a major role in introducing modernist guidelines to local art.
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