Untitled 

Jules-Alexandre Grun created this unnamed portrait of a woman sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Grun came of age during the French Third Republic, a time of significant social change and artistic experimentation. In this soft pastel drawing, the artist captures the essence of a woman, likely of the Parisian bourgeoisie. She gazes confidently, adorned with the symbols of her class, a large hat, decorative flowers, and elegant attire. The woman's smile hints at the subtle but growing sense of female empowerment percolating through the era. Grun was part of a generation of artists who were both preserving and challenging traditional representations of women. While the portrait retains elements of idealized beauty, it also suggests a modern sensibility, hinting at a woman who is aware of her own agency and presence.