Madame Paris assise sur une banquette 1915

Paul César Helleu drew ‘Madame Paris assise sur une banquette’ with drypoint and crayon. This is such a relaxed drawing, isn’t it? Look how the artist has drawn with swift, confident lines that seem to capture a fleeting moment. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the paper, shifting and adjusting to find the right form. I imagine Helleu standing close to his model, Madame Paris, with her hat and striped jacket, quickly trying to get the image down before she changed her mind or moved. He probably stood back, squinted, and then rushed forward again, making small adjustments. I love how the shadows are not just dark areas, but active strokes that describe the light and volume. The painting feels like a quiet conversation between the artist and the model, each line a word, each shadow a pause. It’s a reminder that paintings aren’t just images, they are records of a moment, a thought, a feeling. And they invite us to participate in that moment, to feel the energy and intention of the artist. Like all good art, Helleu's drawing embraces ambiguity and allows for multiple interpretations.