The artwork titled “Portrait of a Young Woman” was created by the renowned artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec between the years 1883 and 1884. This piece, which belongs to the Impressionism movement, exemplifies the genre of portraiture in its depiction of the subject. The painting is part of the collection at the National Museum of Serbia, located in Belgrade, Serbia.
“Portrait of a Young Woman” presents the viewer with a clear, focused representation of the individual at its center. The subject, a young woman dressed in a dark, form-fitting garment, is positioned against a background that appears indistinct, with loose brushstrokes that suggest a spontaneous execution typical of the Impressionist style. The woman’s face is rendered with greater clarity, capturing her gaze and expression with a sense of intimacy and immediacy. Her brown hair is neatly parted in the middle, and her presence is accentuated by the lighter tones used for her skin and the hints of color within her attire, such as the blue and white around her wrists, possibly indicating cuffs or accessories. The artist’s use of light and shadow, combined with his selection of a muted color palette, adds to the evocative and atmospheric quality of the work. While the setting of the portrait remains ambiguous, the psychological presence of the woman is strongly conveyed, giving the viewer a sense of her persona.
