Claudine 

Alice Pike Barney captured this pastel drawing, "Claudine," during a transformative period when women artists were pushing against the confines of traditional roles. Barney, from a wealthy background, dedicated herself to art and feminist causes. In this piece, the soft hues and gentle lines depict a young girl in profile. There's a tenderness in the way Barney captures Claudine's youth. The gaze and posture have an introspective air. The rosy tint in her cheeks gives her an innocence that's hard to resist. While portraits of children were common, Barney’s empathetic approach infused a sense of individuality and quiet strength in her subject. This challenged the sentimental and idealized images often associated with children at the time. Barney used her art to express her own evolving identity. "Claudine" speaks to the personal and societal shifts of women during this era.