Mademoiselle Lucie Delabigne (1859–1910), Called Valtesse de la Bigne Édouard Manet (1832-1883)

The portrait presents a young woman in profile, her gaze directed towards the left of the frame. Her hair, a vibrant auburn, is styled with loose curls escaping from a dark band across her forehead. The artist employed a rapid, broken brushstroke technique, particularly evident in the rendering of the hair and skin tones, creating a shimmering effect that suggests light reflecting off surfaces. This impasto lends a sense of immediacy and vitality to the depiction.
The woman’s complexion is pale, with subtle pinkish hues suggesting a delicate constitution. Her eyes are a striking blue-grey, conveying an impression of quiet introspection or perhaps melancholy. The lips are softly defined, hinting at a restrained expression. A high lace collar frames her neck and shoulders, its intricate pattern rendered with meticulous detail despite the overall loose style of the painting. Below the collar, a patterned fabric is visible, suggesting a richly decorated garment.
The background is deliberately understated – a muted grey that allows the subject to dominate the composition without distraction. The lack of environmental context contributes to an emphasis on the individual’s psychological presence.
Subtleties within the work suggest more than a straightforward representation. The womans posture and gaze imply a certain reserve, hinting at a complex inner life. The choice of profile view, rather than a full frontal pose, can be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to convey an air of mystery or distance. The loose brushwork, while visually appealing, also contributes to a sense of fleetingness – the impression that this is not a static portrait but a captured moment in time. The overall effect is one of quiet elegance and understated emotional depth.