3015 - ALBERT ANKER

ALBERT ANKER (1831–1910) Portrait of a Girl. Oil on canvas. Signed lower left: Anker. 41 × 31.5 cm. Provenance: - Private collection, O. Künzli, Zurich, 1931. - Private collection, Zurich. - Private collection, Switzerland. Exhibited: Bern 1931, Albert Anker 1831–1910. Centennial Exhibition, Kunstmuseum Bern, June 20–August 23, 1931, no. 119 (verso with label). Bibliography: - Exhibition catalog *Albert Anker 1831–1910. Centennial Exhibition*, Bern 1931, no. 119. - Albert Anker, Max Huggler, and Kunstmuseum Bern: Albert Anker. Catalog of Paintings and Oil Studies, Bern 1962, no. 256 (ill., verso with label). - Sandor Kuthy and Therese Bhattacharya-Stettler: Albert Anker. Catalog of Paintings and Oil Studies, Basel 1995, p. 196, no. 414 (ill.). The averted gaze, the thoughtful expression, the fair strands framing her face, and the carefully arranged plait resting over her shoulder: Albert Anker captures the quiet presence of a young girl, whose simple neckerchief lends the portrait an air of naturalness. Against the dark background, the delicate tones of her skin and fair hair stand out softly, drawing attention to her face and its pensive expression. A passing daydream, perhaps, or a hint of melancholy? The painter leaves the question unanswered, making no attempt to probe his sitter’s inner life. With his sensitive understanding of childhood, Anker combines close observation with understated tenderness. Beyond a mere likeness, he gives the girl a compelling presence and a quiet expressiveness that hold the viewer’s gaze.