Fillette blonde 1900 - 1902

Jean-Jacques Henner created this painting of a fair-haired girl, probably in oils, sometime in the late 19th century. Look at the way the figure emerges from the dark background like a memory taking shape. I imagine Henner, in his studio, carefully mixing shades of black and grey to create a sense of depth. Then, he would have applied the golden tones of her hair with light, feathery strokes, building up the form gradually. I can almost feel the softness of the brush against the canvas, the concentration in the artist's gaze. Maybe he stepped back often, squinting, to assess the overall effect. The girl’s profile is simple, yet there’s something mysterious in her expression. The painting reminds me of similar images by other artists from the time – they’re all in dialogue, asking questions about beauty, innocence, and the passage of time. I imagine Henner looking at paintings by Rembrandt for inspiration, and maybe another artist saw this painting and felt inspired to create something new.