Young Woman Pensive By Leopold Schlessinger (1814 / 1880)

Portrait of a young woman in thought, 1881 Oil on canvas Signed and dated lower left: L. Schlessinger 1881 Dim without frame 46/56 Dim with frame 66/75 Sculpted and gilded frame This portrait represents a young woman in bust, in profile, her face resting on her hand, in a calm and introspective attitude. The artist highlights the softness of her features and the elegance of her outfit: a blue satin garment, edged with dark fur, a white muslin bodice and several bracelets on her wrist. The work on the textures is careful, particularly in the rendering of the fabrics and jewelry. The soft light highlights the complexion of the face, detached against a dark and neutral background. Léopold Schlessinger, of German origin, was active in Paris in the second half of the 19th century. A student of Franz Xaver Winterhalter, he specialized in portraiture, particularly of female figures. This painting, dated 1881, is part of this production of portraits that are both decorative and marked by restraint, intended for a bourgeois or aristocratic clientele. Original canvas Visible surface cracks, without lifting. Stable paint layer. Period giltwood frame, in good general condition. A work representative of late 19th-century portrait painting, combining quality of execution, attention to detail and restrained expression.