Nieuwjaarswens met portret van Alice Delysia 1905 - 1920

This is a vintage New Year's greeting card, featuring a portrait of Alice Delysia, created by an anonymous artist. The composition centres on Delysia's face, framed by a cascade of soft, sepia-toned waves. The focus is intense, with her gaze directly engaging the viewer, softened by the gentle gradations of light and shadow that model her features. The sepia tone infuses the image with a sense of nostalgia, a visual echo of a bygone era. Consider how the artist uses light to subtly sculpt Delysia's face, drawing our eye to her expression. The delicate balance between light and shadow operates almost as a semiotic system, hinting at the complexities of beauty and representation. This interplay serves not just to capture a likeness, but to construct a persona, carefully curated for public consumption. The use of monochrome flattens the scene, highlighting the interplay of textures—the smoothness of skin against the wildness of hair. It's a testament to how form and technique can transform a simple greeting into a study of identity and perception.