Tissot Louise Jacques Joseph Tissot (1836-1902)

The drawing presents a woman in profile, her gaze directed towards an indeterminate point beyond the frame. The artist has rendered her with considerable detail, particularly regarding the texture and arrangement of her hair, which is styled in loose curls cascading over her shoulder. A single earring adorns her ear, adding a subtle touch of ornamentation to the composition. Her attire consists of a jacket with pronounced lapels, sketched with careful attention to the fabric’s folds and structure.
The overall tonality is somber, achieved through the use of charcoal or graphite on paper. The limited range of values contributes to an atmosphere of introspection and melancholy. Light appears to originate from the left, illuminating her face and highlighting the contours of her features.
Beneath the portrait, a handwritten text occupies the lower portion of the drawing. It is written in French, its script somewhat cramped but legible. The content suggests a personal reflection or perhaps a fragment of poetry – a lament concerning loss and a desire for oblivion. Phrases like Ma bouche est un écrit meublé de pertes fines (My mouth is a writing furnished with fine losses) and “pour faire si Blanche avec ce corps flût” (“to make so white with this body flute”) evoke themes of regret, fading beauty, and the ephemeral nature of existence.
The inclusion of the text alongside the portrait introduces an intriguing layer of complexity. It implies that the woman depicted is not merely a subject but also a conduit for emotional expression – a vessel carrying a burden of sorrow. The juxtaposition of the visual representation with the written words creates a sense of intimacy, as if the viewer were privy to a private moment of contemplation.
The signature Louise appears near the upper right corner, suggesting that this is a portrait of an individual named Louise. The artist’s signature, “James,” and the date “1861” are placed in the upper left corner, providing contextual information about the works creation. These details anchor the drawing within a specific historical moment while simultaneously reinforcing its personal significance.