Portrait of a Young Girl with a Mask 1886

"Portrait of a Young Girl with a Mask" is an oil painting on canvas by Jean-François Portaels, completed in 1886. The painting depicts a young woman in a red and turquoise robe, holding a turquoise and gold mask in her right hand, and looking at it intently. The girl's expression suggests contemplation of the mask, and possibly the nature of identity and performance. Portaels was known for his portraits and genre paintings, often depicting scenes from everyday life, and his work often explored themes of beauty, femininity, and cultural difference.