Portrait of Mademoiselle Chanel 1923

Marie Laurencin painted this portrait of Mademoiselle Chanel with oil on canvas, but when, exactly, remains a mystery. I love how Laurencin builds this image with these soft, powdery colours. Look at the way she models the form of Chanel’s face. The surface feels almost chalky, like pastel. And the brushwork is so straightforward. The paint isn’t overworked or blended. It just sits there, in these uncomplicated marks. I’m particularly drawn to the way that the blue of the shawl bleeds into the green of the background. It’s a really simple way of creating depth and atmosphere, with this feeling of gentle melancholy. The painting reminds me a little of Corot, particularly his portraits of women. Like Corot, Laurencin creates an image that is both classical and modern, timeless and of its moment. Ultimately, the power of this painting lies in its ambiguity. It's a painting that invites us to linger, to dream, and to imagine.