The democratic nature common to the Impressionists in the choice of their subject-matter also showed itself in Renoir’s choice of models for his portraits. The artist has often portrayed girls from the outskirts of Paris, as he felt captivated by their natural femininity. In this portrait, his sitter’s beauty lies not in her regular facial features, but in the charm of her youth, lively colours of her face and the brilliance of her eyes. Her image exudes charm, which is what the master celebrated in the female characters he has depicted. The meticulous rendering of the girl’s face enables the viewer to examine the details, while her hands, dress and fan are shown in a more generalised manner. The elaborate treatment of colours produces a light and aerial effect, filling the background of the painting and softening the outlines.
Title:
Girl with a Fan
Place:
Date:
Technique:
oil on canvas
Dimensions:
65x50 cm
Acquisition date:
Entered the Hermitage in 1930; handed over from the State Museum of New Western Art in Moscow; originally in the Ivan Morozov collection
Inventory Number:
ГЭ-6507
Category:
Collection:
Subcollection:
