Portret van een zittende vrouw 1902 - 1904

This small portrait of a seated woman was created by Aug. Dubut-Lebrun using a photographic process. It’s so diminutive and precious, like a painted miniature. I love how the limited grayscale palette brings a certain moodiness and solemnity to the image, which for me speaks of artmaking as a process of distilling the world. The tones shift subtly across the surface, from the creamy white of her dress, patterned with raised satin details, to the dark depths of her hair. You can just make out the soft focus on the woman's face, and the way that this directs your eye to her serene gaze. I love the gold trim around the frame; it adds an element of ceremony and elevates the image to something special. This reminds me of the formal portraits by Félix Vallotton, who was painting at around the same time. Both artists share a similar approach to composition and tone, but Dubut-Lebrun's work has an intimacy that feels particularly special. For me, this piece is a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation across time.