Who painted Woman with Three Girls?

Woman with Three Girls was painted by József Rippl-Rónai in 1909.

Where can I see Woman with Three Girls?

Woman with Three Girls is held by Brooklyn Museum.

What movement is Woman with Three Girls?

Woman with Three Girls is associated with Post-Impressionism.

Artwork

Woman with Three Girls

József Rippl-Rónai , 1909

Woman with Three Girls is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist József Rippl-Rónai. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.

About this work

Overview

József Rippl‑Rónai’s 1909 oil painting *Woman with Three Girls* depicts a domestic scene in which a seated woman is flanked by three young girls. The figures are arranged around a table covered with a vivid red cloth, upon which a modest vase of flowers rests. The setting opens onto a leafy outdoor backdrop, lending a calm, contemplative mood to the composition.

Subject & Meaning

The central woman, dressed in a white gown and hat, appears poised yet relaxed, while the girls behind her wear darker garments accented with white collars. Their quiet posture and the subdued interaction suggest a moment of familial intimacy, perhaps a brief pause in everyday life, inviting viewers to consider themes of motherhood, care, and the passage of time.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil, the work employs the bright, unmodulated color fields characteristic of post‑impressionism. Rippl‑Rónai balances bold hues—such as the red tablecloth and the green foliage—with softer tonal variations on the figures, creating a sense of depth without relying on strict realism. The brushwork is fluid, allowing forms to suggest rather than delineate precise details.

History & Provenance

Created during the early phase of Rippl‑Rónai’s modernist career, the painting entered the Brooklyn Museum’s collection where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s effort to represent early 20th‑century Central European art, and it stands as a documented example of the artist’s output from this period.

Context

At the time of its execution, Hungarian art was transitioning toward modernist tendencies, with Rippl‑Rónai among the first to adopt post‑impressionist ideas.

At the time of its execution, Hungarian art was transitioning toward modernist tendencies, with Rippl‑Rónai among the first to adopt post‑impressionist ideas. The painting’s blend of domestic subject matter and experimental color aligns with broader European trends that sought to reinterpret everyday scenes through a new visual language, linking Hungarian practice to contemporary movements in France and beyond.