658 - Louis Welden Hawkins, *Jeune femme mélancolique* (Young Melancholic Woman), Framed oil painting

Louis Welden Hawkins, *Jeune femme mélancolique* (Young Melancholic Woman), Framed oil painting Louis Welden Hawkins, 1849 Esslingen - 1910 Paris, a leading French Symbolist painter of British-Austrian origin, best known for his contemplative, dreamlike portraits of women.Although he was of British-Austrian descent and was born in Germany, he spent most of his life in France and later also took French citizenship; here: A young, melancholic woman wearing a blue cap and coat sits on a bench in front of an old house, with a book beside her; a masterfully lit oil on canvas, 53 x 68 cm, historically relined, historically restored & expertly cleaned, signed in the centre of the lower edge. L.W. Hawkins, framed About the artist: Louis Welden Hawkins completed his artistic training at the famous Académie Julian in Paris. He quickly became part of the Parisian avant-garde circles and was in close contact with Symbolist writers such as Stéphane Mallarmé and Jean Moréas. His style combines the mysterious, emotional depth of Symbolism with the decorative elegance of Art Nouveau. His most characteristic works often include melancholic portraits of women, allegorical scenes and portraits of prominent figures of the era. Many of his masterpieces are now on display in international museums, particularly at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.