A Young Beauty 

Eugene de Blaas painted this small oil on panel titled, *A Young Beauty*. De Blaas came from an artistic family and was known for his genre scenes, often depicting Venetian life. Here, we see a young woman, her hair elegantly styled, yet a single tear traces a path down her cheek. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, women were often portrayed in art as symbols of beauty and purity, yet here De Blaas hints at a more complex narrative. Is she sad? Resigned? The tear humanizes her. It suggests an inner world, a personal experience that transcends the aesthetic ideal. This painting invites us to consider the emotional lives of women who, at the time, were often confined by social expectations. By focusing on the individual emotion of this young woman, de Blaas offers a glimpse into the universal experiences of sadness and vulnerability that resonate across time.