Young Woman Powdering Herself (Seurat)

Young Woman Powdering Herself (French: Jeune femme se poudrant) is an oil on canvas painting executed between 1889–90, by the French painter Georges Seurat.[1] The work, one of the leading examples of pontillism, depicts the artist's mistress Madeleine Knobloch.[2] It is in the collection of the Courtauld Institute of Art and on display in the Gallery at Somerset House. The painting is now back on display at the Courtald.

Young Woman Powdering Herself
French: Jeune femme se poudrant
ArtistGeorges Seurat
Year1889-90
Mediumoil on canvas
Dimensions95.5 by 79.5 centimetres (37.6 in × 31.3 in)
LocationCourtauld Gallery, London

Seurat kept his relationship with his artist's model Knobloch secret.[3] His relationship to the sitter was concealed when it was exhibited in 1890.[2]

Hidden self-portrait

Since the painting was publicly shown, the wall behind the young woman had displayed a bamboo picture frame showing a vase of flowers.[2] In 2014 using advanced image technology, it was revealed that Seurat had painted himself at his easel, the object on the wall is now believed to be a mirror.[4] After showing the painting to a friend, Seurat painted over the portrait with a table and flowers.[2][3] Ironically, this concealed portrait is the only known self-portrait made by Seurat.

See also

References
  1. "Young Woman powdering Herself". artandarchitecture.org.uk. Courtauld Institute of Art. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  2. Jonathan Jones (24 March 2001). "Portrait of the week no. 50 - Young Woman Powdering Herself, Georges-Pierre Seurat (c. 1890)". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  3. Leslie, Tim (4 July 2014). "Before and after: X-ray paintings by Picasso, Van Gogh to reveal their surprising stories". ABC News (Australia). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  4. Alberge, Dalya (28 March 2014). "Georges Seurat's secret self-portrait sees light of day". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
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