Portrait of the young Caroline de Colombier Antoine Calbet (1860-1944)

The drawing presents a young woman in a dynamic pose, seemingly caught mid-motion as she reaches upwards towards foliage. She is positioned centrally within the frame, her body angled diagonally across the composition, which contributes to a sense of energy and movement. Her gaze is directed outwards, beyond the viewer, suggesting an engagement with something external to the depicted scene.
The woman’s attire consists of a light-colored dress with delicate sleeves and a sash tied around her waist, which falls in graceful folds. The fabric appears soft and flowing, further enhancing the impression of movement. Her hair is styled in loose curls, framing her face and adding to the overall sense of youthful vitality.
The surrounding foliage – a tangle of branches bearing berries – forms an integral part of the composition. It acts as both a visual frame for the figure and a symbolic element that interacts with her pose. The way she grasps the branches suggests a playful interaction with nature, hinting at themes of freedom and perhaps even a desire to ascend or escape.
The drawing’s technique is characterized by delicate hatching and cross-hatching, which create tonal variations and define form. This meticulous rendering lends a refined quality to the work. The limited color palette – primarily greens, pinks, and browns – contributes to a sense of delicacy and restraint.
Subtly, theres an element of wistfulness conveyed through her expression; it isn’t overtly joyful but rather imbued with a quiet introspection. This nuance prevents the scene from being purely celebratory, suggesting a more complex emotional landscape beneath the surface of youthful exuberance. The placement of the figure within this natural setting implies a connection to the pastoral ideal – a romanticized vision of rural life and harmony with nature – while her pose introduces an element of playful defiance against any sense of constraint.