Portrait of a Young Woman 1863

Henri Regnault painted this portrait of a young woman sometime in the mid-19th century. The vibrant blue ribbon stands out against the dark dress, drawing our attention to its striking hue. Ribbons, beyond mere adornment, have long symbolized connection and remembrance. Consider the myriad uses of ribbons across time – from tying lovers’ letters to adorning religious effigies. The act of tying, a binding gesture, speaks to an innate human desire to create lasting bonds. This blue ribbon echoes similar motifs throughout history. We see it in medieval tapestries, Renaissance portraits, and even in contemporary fashion, each time carrying a whisper of its past. The colour blue itself adds layers of meaning. In many cultures, blue symbolizes serenity, trust, and introspection. Psychologically, it elicits a sense of calm, yet its intensity can also evoke feelings of melancholy, mirroring the complex emotional states we often seek to capture and preserve.