Back to gallery
Studies of Ellen, the artist's daughter

Art Appreciation

This delicate drawing presents two studies of the same young woman, depicted with remarkable sensitivity and finesse. The medium, primarily pencil with subtle washes of color, allows the artist to render the softness of her features and the flowing texture of her hair with a luminous clarity. The composition places the two portraits side by side, allowing a comparison of subtle differences in expression and gaze, each capturing a different emotional nuance—one more introspective, the other slightly averted, suggesting a quiet, contemplative mood.

The monochromatic palette is punctuated by warm tones that bring vitality to the work without overwhelming its essence, creating an intimate atmosphere. The artist's loose, almost sketch-like strokes imbue the drawing with a sense of immediacy and life. The visible signature near the right figure, "Ellen," personalizes the work further, hinting at a familial or intimate connection. This piece reverberates with late 19th to early 20th-century sentimental portrait studies, emphasizing character and inner world over strict realism, making it a touching example of intimate, observational drawing.

Studies of Ellen, the artist's daughter

Paul César Helleu

Category:

Created:

Date unknown

Likes:

0

Dimensions:

6400 × 2904 px
607 × 275 mm

Download:

Related artworks

Terme in the Park of Versailles
Study for the Death of Socrates
Statue in the Park of Versailles
A collection of early drawings
Study of Three Heads of Ellen
Madame Helleu Reading with Her Daughter
Madame Marthe Letellier Sitting on a Sofa, Holding a Fan
Sheet with Nine Antique Medals
Profile portrait of Elisabeth Van Biema
Two studies of a seated figure, for the frieze Music