Werther Drawing Charlotte Antoine Calbet (1860-1944)

The drawing presents a scene of quiet intimacy between two figures seated on a bench. A man occupies one side, his posture suggesting attentiveness as he leans slightly towards the woman beside him. He is dressed in a brown coat and a tricorn hat, indicative of late 18th-century attire. The woman, positioned closer to the center, wears a pale pink dress with white accents; her head is adorned with a delicate cap. She holds what appears to be a sheet of paper or book, suggesting an activity involving reading or writing.
The artist’s use of pastel and charcoal creates a muted color palette dominated by soft tones of pink, brown, and grey. The background is rendered in loose strokes, blurring the details and focusing attention on the figures themselves. This lack of precise detail contributes to a sense of immediacy and spontaneity, as if capturing a fleeting moment.
The composition emphasizes the proximity of the two individuals, fostering an impression of shared experience or private conversation. Their bodies are angled towards one another, reinforcing this connection. The man’s gaze is directed at the woman, while her expression remains ambiguous – its difficult to discern whether she is engaged in a reciprocal interaction or lost in thought.
Subtly, there is an air of melancholy present. The subdued color scheme and the somewhat withdrawn postures of the figures evoke a sense of introspection and perhaps even longing. The setting, seemingly outdoors but indistinct, adds to this feeling of isolation. It’s possible that the scene depicts a moment of quiet contemplation or unspoken emotion, hinting at underlying tensions or unfulfilled desires. The overall effect is one of delicate sentimentality, characteristic of works exploring themes of romantic yearning and emotional vulnerability.