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Belle da Costa Greene

Art Appreciation

This captivating portrait captures the refined elegance of a woman in profile, rendered with masterful pastel strokes on a creamy beige background. The artist has skillfully employed a combination of soft shading and bold, sweeping lines to create a sense of volume and movement, particularly evident in the woman's voluminous black hat adorned with delicate feathers. Her face is subtly flushed with gentle touches of red on the lips and cheeks, radiating a quiet sophistication and delicacy. The striking contrast between her dark garments and the airy white fur collar draws the eye, forming a rhythm that flows gracefully across the composition.

The composition’s minimal background allows the focus to remain firmly on the sitter, whose aloof yet poised demeanor evokes a sense of early 20th-century aristocratic charm. The loose, dynamic strokes suggest the immediacy of capturing a fleeting moment—a personality glimpsed in profile, lights and shadows dancing over her features. Historically, this work emerges from the Belle Époque era, reflecting both fashion and the aesthetic values of refined society. The artist’s approach balances realism with impressionistic freehand vigor, inviting the viewer to appreciate the sensual texture of pastels and the subtle interplay of light and shadow that breathe life into this exquisite figurative study.

Belle da Costa Greene

Paul César Helleu

Category:

Created:

1913

Likes:

0

Dimensions:

3932 × 4906 px
534 × 675 mm

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