#47301 Alexandre De Riquer e Ynglada (1856-1920)

The artwork presents a portrait of a young woman framed within a rectangular border, set against a muted beige background. The overall impression is one of delicate refinement and quiet introspection.
Here we see the subject depicted from the chest upwards; her gaze directed towards the viewer with an expression that suggests both composure and a subtle hint of melancholy. Her hair, rendered in soft, reddish-brown tones, cascades around her shoulders, contributing to a sense of naturalness and unstudied grace. The artist has employed a technique that softens the features, avoiding sharp lines and instead favoring blended transitions which lends a dreamlike quality to the portrait.
Below the woman’s face, an arrangement of flowers occupies the lower portion of the composition. These blossoms, predominantly pink and yellow with touches of green foliage, are rendered in a style reminiscent of botanical illustration, yet imbued with a decorative sensibility characteristic of late 19th-century aesthetics. The floral elements appear to spill outwards from the frame, creating a sense of organic growth that contrasts with the formal structure of the portrait itself.
The color palette is restrained, relying on earthy tones and muted hues. This limited range contributes to the painting’s overall feeling of serenity and nostalgia. The use of warm colors in the womans face and hair draws attention to her features while the cooler tones of the flowers provide a visual counterpoint.
Subtly, the arrangement of flowers could be interpreted as symbolic. Flowers often represent themes of beauty, fragility, and transience – concepts that resonate with the quiet sadness suggested by the woman’s expression. The juxtaposition of the human figure and the natural world hints at a contemplation of mortality and the passage of time. It is possible to read this work as an exploration of feminine identity within a context of idealized beauty and fleeting existence.