1285 - 19th Century French School - Portrait of a Girl (signed Marie Schottin)

19th Century French School - Portrait of a Girl (signed Marie Schottin) Oil on canvas-covered cardboard; carved wooden frame. Dimensions with frame: 74 × 56 cm. This portrait depicts a young man with a melancholic expression, lost in thought, with abundant black hair and dressed simply, covered by a dark coat and an ochre scarf tied around his neck. He is shown half-length, leaning slightly to the left, his gaze fixed on an undefined point, as if it were a presence or idea existing only in his inner world. The bust stands out clearly against a light background softly shaded in greenish tones, which accentuates the modeling of the face and reinforces the contrast between the flesh tones and the dark tones of the clothing. The brushwork is flexible and blended, with particularly careful transitions of light and shadow, especially visible on the forehead, cheeks, and eyes, giving the whole a remarkable softness and sensitivity of execution. This is a highly intense psychological portrait, evocative of the fin-de-siècle artist, poet, or intellectual, transcending mere physical description. Signed “Marie Schottin” in the upper right corner of the panel, the work can be dated to the late 19th or early 20th century, firmly within the tradition of French portraiture of this period, characterized by a pursuit of naturalism, compositional restraint, and a particular attention to the treatment of light and flesh tones. The painting is presented in an antique molded, carved, and gilded wooden frame, decorated with pearl and heart motifs, likely original or very close to the time of its creation, which harmonizes elegantly with the intimate and reflective nature of the work. This lot is in an international warehouse (within the EU). Intra-EU shipping: no import duties apply within the EU. An export permit from the country of origin may be required. Due to its age and history of use, this lot may show signs of wear and previous interventions. Unless explicitly stated ...