As one of Morisot's more unique paintings, due to the formal context as opposed to a domestic context, she focuses the attention of the scene to the woman's gaze. The model sits, perhaps hiding her face behind her open fan as the gazes to the opposite side, away from the viewer and out of the frame, causing the viewer to become curious about where she may be looking. She sits in front of the taupe wall with her back to a divider filled with dark green leaves, and flowers colored red and yellow. The red partition its self brings pops of color to the painting. The woman sits in a formal white and gray gown adorned with ribbons and lace. She decorates herself with pale yellow, white, and deep purple flowers on her chest and hair. Her white-gloved hand holds up the open fan, which appears to have a floral motif of similar colors.
SKU: 65718
Creator: Berthe Morisot
Date: 1875
Original Medium: Oil on canvas
Location: Musée Marmottan Monet