“The Cobbler’s Wife,” a portrait painted by Chaim Soutine in 1928 in France, currently resides in a private collection. The artwork, characterized by its expressive brushstrokes and poignant depiction, embodies the essence of the early 20th-century portrait genre.
In the artwork, the subject, presumably the cobbler’s wife, is rendered with intense emotional expression and a somber presence. The background is composed of deep blue hues, which contrast sharply with the pale complexion of the subject’s face and neck. The woman’s attire is dark, blending subtly with the backdrop and focusing the viewer’s attention on her facial features, which are marked by a sense of melancholy and introspection. The brushwork is vigorous and textured, a signature of Soutine’s style, which imparts a sense of immediacy and raw emotion to the portrait.