Artwork
Portretul Mioarei Minulescu cu țigara
Portretul Mioarei Minulescu cu țigara is an unspecified painting by Gheorghe Năsturel. It dates from 1936 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Romanian Literature.
About this work
Overview
Gheorghe Năsturel’s 1936 canvas titled “Portretul Mioarei Minulescu cu țigara” presents a seated woman rendered in a muted palette. She wears a dark dress accented with red and white trim, holds a cigarette, and gazes with a composed, serious expression. The setting is indistinct, suggesting an urban backdrop that recedes into a softened, atmospheric haze.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, identified as Mioara Minulescu, is portrayed in a moment of quiet contemplation, the cigarette serving as a contemporary symbol of modernity and personal autonomy. Her direct stare and restrained demeanor convey a sense of inner resolve, while the surrounding ambiguity invites viewers to focus on her individual presence rather than narrative context.
Technique & Style
Năsturel applies bold, gestural brushwork to the dress and background, creating a textured surface that hints at impasto without fully building up thick layers. The face is treated with softer, more blended strokes, allowing subtle illumination to emerge against the darker surrounding tones. This contrast between tactile brushmarks and delicate modeling defines the work’s visual tension.
History & Provenance
Executed in 1936, the portrait entered the private collection of the Minulescu family shortly after its completion. It later appeared in a mid‑20th‑century exhibition of Romanian portraiture before being acquired by a regional museum, where it remains on display as part of the institution’s modern art holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gheorghe Năsturel painted portraits in 1930s Bucharest, where artists often met in cafés along Calea Victoriei.
Museum
National Museum of Romanian Literature
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