A Woman in an Evening Dress, Singing
Constantin Guys
Description
Subject Matter:
In his famous 1863 essay "The Painter of Modern Life" Charles Baudelaire characterizes an artist he calls "Monsieur G" as the ultimate "flâneur," a (male) figure of the Second Empire who thrived on roaming the city and observing urban spectacles. Guys then sketched what he'd seen from memory in a quick, fleeting style that, for Baudelaire, mirrored the transient quality of life in the modern city. Elegant women held a particular fascination for both Guys and Baudelaire.
Physical Description:
A sketch of a woman in an evening dress. Her face and mouth are drawn in a way to suggest the action of singing. In her right hand she is holding her gown; she is leaning forward and appears to be advancing forward, as during a performance.
Usage Rights:
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