Portrait of Hélène Fourment c. 1630 - 1631

This preparatory drawing by Peter Paul Rubens depicts Hélène Fourment, the artist's second wife, in a seated pose. Created around 1630-1631, the drawing showcases Rubens' masterful use of black chalk to capture the delicate features and flowing drapery of his subject. It is a testament to the artist's exceptional skill in capturing the likeness of his sitters, evident in the subtle details of the figure's posture and the nuanced shading of the fabric. This drawing likely served as a study for a larger painting, perhaps one of the many portraits Rubens created of his beloved Hélène.