Portrait of a Child 1883

Helene Schjerfbeck painted this Portrait of a Child using oil on canvas. During Schjerfbeck's era, the late 19th and early 20th centuries, societal expectations for women artists were often restrictive. Her decision to focus on portraiture, particularly of children, can be viewed as both a reflection of and a subtle resistance to these norms. The painting evokes a sense of innocence and introspection, depicting a young girl with her eyes closed, seemingly lost in her own world. In that regard, the painting invites reflection on the experience of girlhood, its constraints and possibilities, and the ways in which societal expectations shape young women's identities. I wonder, what are your memories from childhood when viewing this image?