Portrait of a Woman

In the final quarter of the nineteenth century, the German artist Franz von Lenbach played a dominant role in the artistic life of Munich and was highly celebrated for his portraits of the nobility and upper middle class in Germany and Austria-Hungary. This portrait of a lady provides evidence of his artistry. The lively, relaxed pose of this female figure as she emerges from the background is characteristic of his work. She has an expressive, slightly frivolous expression on her face, with dazzling eyes and her mouth slightly open. The painting is a virtuoso work with a rapid, sure touch that enhances the spontaneous character of the portrait. Like many artists at the time, Lenbach was inspired by photography. It is known that he had his models photographed in various poses and with different expressions and then literally imitated the photos in his painting.