Mlle. Simpson 

This is Alphonse Legros's drawing of Mlle. Simpson. Though undated, it places us somewhere within the late 19th century. Legros, born in France but later a British citizen, occupied a unique position straddling two cultures. The portrait itself, rendered in delicate lines, presents us with a young woman of understated elegance. There's a certain ambiguity in her gaze, a blend of vulnerability and intelligence that invites our curiosity. Is this a reflection of the sitter's personality, or does it tell us more about Legros's own perspective and the societal expectations of women at the time? Legros created images of working-class people to highlight their daily struggles. This portrait, however, seems to focus on the individual, set against a blank background. The piece encourages us to consider not only who Mlle. Simpson was, but also the ways in which artists choose to represent their subjects and how those choices reflect broader social narratives.