The artwork titled “Portrait of My Cousin Ana, Maria Domenech” is attributed to the artist Salvador Dali, created around 1923. The medium employed is oil on cardboard, with expressionist influences reflected in the piece. It presents itself as a portrait, measuring 89 cm by 46 cm in dimensions.
The artwork depicts a young girl standing against a plain background. The use of colors is quite reserved, mainly consisting of muted blues, pinks, and touches of yellow. The girl is portrayed with a large blue bow in her hair, which stands out against the more subdued colors of her clothing and the background. The strokes employed are loose and give the impression of being hastily applied, which is characteristic of the expressionist movement that often prioritizes emotion and individual expression over precise realism.
Her facial features are simplified, with small black dots for eyes and a mere hint of a nose. The mouth is depicted with a faint line, conveying minimal expression. This style suggests an experimental phase of the artist, straying from detailed realism and instead focusing on capturing the essence or character of the subject in a less conventional manner. The simplification and abstraction in the facial rendering evoke a sense of innocence and the unrefined nature of childhood in the subject. Despite being a work of portraiture, the artist steers away from intricate detail, which can prompt viewers to engage more with the mood and feeling of the piece rather than the individual specifics of the subject’s appearance.
