Woman With A Bun, By Léopold Kowalski (1856–1931)

Charcoal, view size 30.5 x 23.9 cm

Léopold Franz Kowalski was a painter, engraver, and lithographer born in Paris to Polish parents. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and regularly exhibited his paintings at the Salon beginning in 1883. In 1890, he received his first award, followed in 1891 by a bronze medal at the Salon. His favorite subjects were genre scenes, in which he highlighted the beauty of his female models, and portraits for a wealthy Parisian clientele. In 1912, he left Paris to settle in the Eure department. He then turned to painting landscapes of Brittany and Normandy, followed by intimate portraits of his wife or daughter.

The drawing presented here, dating from around 1900 and depicting a woman with a hairstyle typical of the fashion of the time, is a preparatory study for the painting titled "La main chaude" (the current location of which is unknown). This work, imbued with great tenderness, attests to the artist’s mastery in rendering the subject’s form.

The drawing is sold in a mounting that includes a pH-neutral backing board, an off-white beveled mat, a sealed protective enclosure, 2 mm-thick glass, a hanging fixture, and a modern frame. If you would like to purchase the drawing without the modern frame, please contact the gallery before making your purchase.