The artwork, “Head of a Young Girl,” was created by Henri Fantin-Latour in 1870. It is an oil on canvas painting, embodying the Realism art movement and categorized within the portrait genre. This remarkable piece is housed at the Fitzwilliam Museum, part of the University of Cambridge, located in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
This portrait depicts the profile of a young girl, presented from the left side, against a muted, dark background. The girl’s complexion is rendered with delicate and subtle brushstrokes, emphasizing the softness of her skin and the youthfulness of her features. Her expression is contemplative, gazing into the distance with an almost melancholic serenity. The artist employs a restrained palette of soft, earthly tones, which enhances the lifelike representation of the subject. The girl’s thick, dark hair is partially held back by a headband, allowing gentle light to illuminate her face, highlighting her serene countenance. Meticulous attention to detail is evident in the texture of the hair and the subtle shading that lends depth to the form.
