The Madame B Album c. 1870s

"The Madame B Album" is a delicate and intricate watercolor album page by French artist Marie-Blanche Hennelle Fournier, created in the 1870s. The piece features a central portrait photograph framed by a vibrant floral arrangement of poppies and other blossoms. The detailed botanical elements, rendered in delicate hues, showcase the artist's precise hand and her keen observation of nature. This work exemplifies the artistic sensibilities of the late 19th century, when botanical illustration and portraiture were popular genres. The album page, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, offers a glimpse into a personal and intimate style of artistic expression common during the period.