The artwork titled “Portrait of Mlle. Jacquet” was created by the artist Gustave Courbet in 1857. It is an oil on canvas painting, measuring 90 x 65 cm, and it represents the Realism art movement. The painting depicts a portrait of a young lady, and it currently resides within a private collection.
The artwork features a young woman standing against a muted, nondescript background. She appears in a three-quarter view facing towards her right, with her gaze diverted slightly away from the viewer, giving her a contemplative air. The subject’s facial expression is somber, and her features are rendered with great detail, exemplifying the Realist approach to capturing life as it is, without embellishment or idealization.
She is dressed in modest attire; a black dress with a white collar, accented by a vibrantly colored red bow at her neck, which adds a pop of color to the otherwise subdued palette. The artist has paid particular attention to the lighting and the texture of her apparel, from the gleam on the silk bow to the soft look of her cloth garment. The overall composition conveys a sense of solemnity and introspection typical of Courbet’s portraits. Gustave Courbet’s signature and the year of creation are clearly visible on the lower left of the artwork, confirming the painting’s authenticity and its historical context within his oeuvre.
