Artwork
At the Ball (recto); La femme à l'éventail, after Goya (verso)
At the Ball (recto); La femme à l'éventail, after Goya (verso) is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Constantin Guys. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1847, this double-sided drawing is attributed to French illustrator Constantin Guys. Known for his swift newspaper sketches and later war correspondence, Guys applied his observational approach to a domestic scene. The recto presents a ballroom figure, while the verso contains a more detailed, though faded, portrait labeled *La femme à l’éventail*.
Subject & Meaning
The front of the sheet depicts a woman in an elaborate gown, her hair styled high, holding a fan—a common accessory in 19th‑century social gatherings.
The front of the sheet depicts a woman in an elaborate gown, her hair styled high, holding a fan—a common accessory in 19th‑century social gatherings. The setting suggests a festive ball, emphasizing the elegance and performative aspects of contemporary aristocratic leisure. The reverse portrait offers a closer, more intimate view of the same sitter, reinforcing the theme of feminine presentation.
Technique & Style
Guys employed loose, rapid lines on the recto, characteristic of his press‑ready sketches, conveying movement and immediacy. The verso shows a denser, more controlled rendering, though the ink has faded with age. Both sides reveal a blend of observational accuracy and Romantic sensibility, with emphasis on gesture and costume detail rather than finished polish.
History & Provenance
The drawing emerged during Guys’ early career, prior to his later fame as a Crimean War correspondent. Its dual nature—ball scene on one side, portrait on the other—reflects the artist’s practice of reusing paper for multiple studies. The work has remained in private collections, documented in 19th‑century exhibition catalogues, and is cited as an example of Guys’ transition from newspaper illustration to fine drawing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Constantin Guys (born Ernest-Adolphe Guys de Saint-Hélène, December 3, 1802 – December 13, 1892) was a French Crimean War correspondent, water color painter and illustrator for British and French newspapers.
Portrait of a woman
Woman in a Blue Dress (recto); War Encampment Scene (verso)
Untitled
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Catinca Stavilă-Kogălniceanu
H Beard Print Collection
Portrait of a Lady
H Beard Print Collection