The artwork titled “Portrait of a Young Girl in Black,” created by Andre Derain around 1914, is an oil painting on canvas. This piece, emblematic of the Expressionism movement, belongs to the genre of portraiture. It is currently housed in the Hermitage Museum located in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The artwork features a young girl seated on a chair, depicted in formal attire with a serious, contemplative expression on her face. The composition is characterized by its muted color palette, primarily consisting of black, white, and shades of brown, which evokes a sense of solemnity and introspection. The girl’s dark dress and the lace collar contrast subtly against the neutral background, drawing focus to her somber visage and the detail in her clothing. The background is rendered in a simplistic manner, using broad, sweeping brushstrokes that create a textured effect. The sitter’s hands rest gently on her lap, and the entirety of the scene conveys a sense of stillness and quietude, typical of Derain’s Expressionist style.
