The artwork “Portrait of Baroness Gourgaud in Black Mantilla” by Marie Laurencin, created in 1924, is a striking example of the Expressionism movement. This portrait genre painting employs a formal and evocative tone, capturing the essence of the subject through vivid colors and emotive brushstrokes.
In the artwork, the subject, Baroness Gourgaud, is depicted wearing a black mantilla, a traditional Spanish lace or silk veil. The artist has portrayed her with a serene expression, holding a bouquet of pink flowers. The background is painted in a blend of green and blue shades with abstract swirling forms and the presence of a white bird, adding a dreamlike quality to the composition. The use of soft, fluid lines and a muted palette is characteristic of Laurencin’s style, contributing to the overall ethereal and introspective atmosphere of the portrait.