Portrait of a young woman by Louis Hierlé

Louis HIERLE 
(Estrechure 1856 - 1906 Paris)
Portrait of young woman
1903
oil on wood
31x22cm; 42 x 32 cm
signed 'L. Hierle' top left, dated '1903' top right
in a Napoleon III style frame in wood and gilded stucco
 

Born in Estréchure, Louis Hierlé learned his skills in the workshop of Alexandre Cabanel. He exhibited regularly at the Salon from 1881 where he mainly presented portraits of young women, a field in which he excelled. From 1890, he followed the symbolist movement and enjoyed painting the great icons of the time, such as 'Salomé' for example.
 

Dated 1903, the portrait presented to you condenses several previous influences. Although it is certainly a commission, we can notice that here, the artist invites us to immerse ourselves in a plush and intimate atmosphere, rather than representing a young woman, stricto sensu. The browns, ochres and burgundy of the velvet of her dress contribute to this atmosphere. Concentrated and with a calm face, the young woman observes us with a kind and confident look. Dressed in a fashionable burgundy velvet dress, she wears an elegant low bun that highlights her earrings. In the background, the knots of the wooden panel, deliberately left visible by the artist, allow the purity of his face to be highlighted through a powerful contrast of colors. 
This is an artistic style developed from the 1900s. We note that during this period, the artist produced a series of similar portraits, always in the same tones, where the natural essence of the wood in the background is left visible.
Today kept in several public institutions, the artist's works are enjoying real enthusiasm among collectors. This has been happening since 1995, a record year for two paintings by the artist (Christie’s sale, New York, May 25, 1995, lot 344).

 

Ref: VJJ9P11NFV