Thanks so much Jill! I’m glad I could help you see them again perhaps with a deeper look…

Geneviève thank you for your full and detailed comment! I love all the things you point out, noticed by looking closely at the work.
keep looking, keep studying, keep painting.
Merci beaucoup!!

It’s intriguing isn’t it? One thing is that the yellow-gold is a light value and so can stand in for those areas light. Perhaps the artist had limited choice of colours (during the war especially?) and he would choose to use the warm colours for the skin and hair rather than layering in blues and greens. And I think, to answer your question about how they work together so believably, you could look to value! You can see the portraits in black and white at the top of the blog and see how they read without colour.

You are so welcome Diane! Yup, those eyes…..what they have seen….

That’s fantastic Karen. I love good timing 🙂

Ohhhh Ruth, thank you for your kind words. And yes, it’s the eyes that keep you looking and looking in the end. Such stories lived that can only be imagined by us….

Thanks Jody! It was a fun challenge to do this and interesting how it all came together. I was thrilled t be able to share these amazing portraits!

😀

This a moving idea Gail to ally history with painting today.
-I scrutinized with great interest the three portraits as I just entered a workshop dry pastel portrait with Société des Pastellistes de France in Paris.
Your detailed study of those portraits drove all my attention because I have to say I am a little lost in that workshop where others have more or less ong experience and I, a full novice.
– that use of the color of the paper integrated to the painting gives such strength
-I noted that the choose of the side of the Canson is volonteer when as to the gridded side which could give a more illusive character to the portrait.
I was interested by your stress of the pressure of the stIck, the no “fussing” with the line of the mouth.
– you did not mention both uses of pencils and sticks but I think I did perceive it.
– which puzzles me is as you is that none of the subjects look at us . This is masterly rendered but how? I have to scann those three looks Closer quand Closer to pierce the secret. It must be all In shadows and light.
Thanks So much Gail for that sofruit full study.