Portrait of Madame Helleu

Paul-César Helleu

ca. 1900 · Red chalk, pastel, and graphite · Drawings and Prints

In this portrait of Alice Helleu, the artist shows his wife and favorite model in a flounced white gown, leaning elegantly on a pedestal table or ledge. His use of red, black, and white media recalls the "trois crayons" technique of eighteenth-century masters, though updated by his spare, linear graphic manner. Helleu earned his reputation as a celebrated society portraitist of the Belle Epoque for works executed in this distinctive style.

Artist

Paul-César Helleu

Date

ca. 1900

Medium

Red chalk, pastel, and graphite

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Gift of Betsey and Arthur Selkowitz, 2019