Portret van een jonge vrouw 1889 - 1920

This is G. Bouillaud’s "Portret van een jonge vrouw," and I can imagine it being made with deliberate strokes of brush and gentle washes. I'm thinking about the artist here, working patiently, slowly, in a world without digital distraction. They were likely trying to capture not just likeness, but also the essence of this young woman, her spirit. I see her lace collar, like a frame within a frame, soft light, shadows—how many layers did it take to get that depth, that quiet luminosity? The cool palette gives a sense of peace, of reflection. It reminds me a bit of Corot, with his silvery tones, but here it’s more intimate, more personal. And I’m wondering, what was the story of this woman? Did she ever see this portrait? What did she think of it? It’s a little jewel of a thing, a reminder of the power of paint to connect us across time and space.