Young Girl Wearing an Apron 1899

Maurice Denis's "Young Girl Wearing an Apron" (1899) is a portrait that exemplifies the artist's Symbolist style. The painting depicts a young woman standing in a simple interior, her face obscured by a soft, ethereal light. The figure is rendered in a flattened, decorative manner, emphasizing line and color over precise representation. Denis's focus on color and form as expressive elements and the overall stylized approach of the artwork reflects the influence of the Nabis movement, a group of artists that championed color theory and symbolism. This painting exemplifies a shift in European art at the turn of the 20th century, moving away from realism towards a more subjective and expressive style.