Back to gallery

Art Appreciation
This delicate drawing captures an intimate moment of a young girl, presumably Ellen, the artist's daughter, seen from behind. The figure is tenderly shown with her hands pressed together near her face, almost shielding or whispering to a shadowed form that might be an animal or a companion partially obscured in the sketch's soft folds. The artist employs a gentle interplay of pencil and subtle touches of sanguine, lending warmth to the girl's hair and the contours of her garment. The light, almost ethereal lines trace the figure’s form with elegance, suggesting movement and softness without heavy detail. The composition invites the viewer to feel the quiet affection and protective gesture, evoking a sense of innocence and private comfort.
Portrait of Ellen, the artist's daughter
Paul César HelleuRelated artworks
Duchess of Argyll, née Princess Louise Caroline Alberta of Great Britain 1915