The artwork titled “Portrait of Louise Delphine Duchosal” was created by Ferdinand Hodler in 1885. Executed in oil on canvas, this piece exemplifies the Realism movement. The portrait measures 55 cm by 46.5 cm, capturing the essence of its subject with meticulous detail inherent to the genre.
In this portrait, a young girl, presumably Louise Delphine Duchosal, is depicted seated sideways on a wooden chair, her gaze directed to the left, possibly lost in thought. She is dressed in a dark, simple garment that contrasts starkly against the muted background. Her hands rest gently on her lap, the right hand delicately holding a small white flower, hinting at a sense of innocence and contemplation. The composition is marked by its subdued color palette and the emphasis on the smooth, realistic rendering of the subject’s features, characteristic of the Realist art movement. The background is sparsely detailed, drawing the viewer’s focus entirely onto the figure of the girl.
