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Louise Abbéma an idiosyncratic French painter, sculptor, and designer of the Belle Époque. She was born in Étampes, Essonne to a wealthy aristocratic family with ties to Parisian artistic circles. Louise was the daughter of viscount Émile Abbéma, stationmaster of Étampes, and the great-granddaughter of Théâtre-Français actress Louise Contat and count Louis de Narbonne, who served as Minister of War under Louis XVI. She began to study painting with history painter Louis Devedeux and later in the studios of Charles Chaplin, Jean-Jacques Henner and Carolus-Duran. She met Sarah Bernhardt in 1871 and would maintain a long artistic and romantic relationship with the actor until her death. The painting is serene, elegant, and depicts social class in the late 19th century. Louise skillfully uses light and shadow to highlight the woman's features and the texture of her clothing. A calm (almost reserved) tall young, fair-skinned woman with light blonde hair styled under a large, elaborate hat is the focal point of the canvas. The unmistakable hat is adorned with dark purple and mauve flowers and feathers, creating a dramatic, almost theatrical effect. She wears a long, flowing coat or dress in shades of mauve and lavender, with subtle embroidered details in gold and lighter tones. The gown has beautifully layered, cape-like elements and is cinched at the waist. In her right hand, she holds a closed parasol. Set against the soft, muted outdoor tones of the wide open Place de la Concorde in Paris, France, the focus remains indisputably on the woman walking through the public square. Louise's mix of Impressionistic and Post-Impressionistic styles delivered with visible brushstrokes blends colors into a soft and diffused romantic effect.

Elégante place de la Concorde by Louise Abbéma (French) - Oil on canvas / c. 1894 - Musée Carnavalet (Paris, France) #womeninart #womanartist #femalepainter #frenchartist #art #portrait #MuséeCarnavalet #oilpainting #artwork #LouiseAbbéma #womensart #portraitofawoman #fineart #LouiseAbbema #bskyart