This compelling portrait captures a seated young woman, her upper body nude and exposed with a serene, almost pensive expression. The contrast between her pale skin and the deep purple skirt draped around her waist draws immediate attention, while her delicate hands rest gently on her lap, clutching a soft pink rose. The background is bathed in a rich, warm yellow that seems to envelop her in a golden aura, creating an intense yet intimate atmosphere. The artist’s brushwork reveals fine attention to the smoothness and subtle contours of her skin, lending a lifelike touch that feels both tactile and tender. Her dark, softly curled bob frames her face, which holds a slightly distant gaze, evoking a sense of introspection or quiet dignity.

Vallotton’s technique here balances realism with an almost stark simplicity, avoiding unnecessary detail to focus on the emotional essence of the sitter and the subtle interplay between colors. The composition is carefully calibrated; the seated posture and the rose become symbolic elements of femininity and delicate beauty, while the stark background heightens the emotional focus on the woman herself. Painted in 1914, the work sits at the crossroads of traditional portraiture and modernist inclinations—its straightforward yet profound representation reflects the early 20th century’s evolving approaches to the human form and inner life.