Artwork
Head of a Young Girl (Tete de jeune fille)
Head of a Young Girl (Tete de jeune fille) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Alphonse Legros’s 1874 lithograph titled *Head of a Young Girl* presents a solitary portrait rendered in sanguine, a warm reddish‑brown tone. The image captures a youthful figure with short, wavy hair, a high‑collared garment, and a faintly visible lace trim at the neckline. The paper’s edges bear subtle smudges, suggesting the work’s immediate, sketch‑like execution.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on a serious‑looking young woman, her expression rendered with minimal detail yet enough to convey a contemplative mood. The loose handling of line and the subdued palette emphasize the sitter’s inner presence rather than external adornment, aligning the work with Romantic ideals that prioritize emotional resonance over precise representation.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph in sanguine, Legros employed a quick, gestural line that suggests form without sharpening edges.
Executed as a lithograph in sanguine, Legros employed a quick, gestural line that suggests form without sharpening edges. The medium allows for the soft, almost pencil‑like shading seen across the face and collar, while the print’s texture retains the characteristic grain of lithographic stone. This approach reflects the Romantic period’s preference for expressive, sketch‑like drawing within the print medium.
History & Provenance
Born in France in 1837, Legros relocated to London in 1863, where he later became a naturalized British citizen. During his London years he played a pivotal role in the revival of etching and other print techniques in Britain. *Head of a Young Girl* exemplifies his engagement with portraiture and lithographic practice during this formative period of his career.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
