Artwork

Iulia Săulescu

Iulia Săulescu, by Carol Storck, 1882
Iulia Săulescu, by Carol Storck, 1882

Iulia Săulescu is a print by the Impressionist artist Carol Storck. It dates from 1882 and is held in the collection of the Bucharest Municipality Museum.

About this work

The woman's attire and hairstyle suggest a formal or elegant setting, possibly from the late 19th century.

The painting features a woman with short, curly hair and a black hat adorned with white feathers. She wears a black dress with a white ruffled collar and a pink rose on her chest. The background is a deep red color.

The woman's attire and hairstyle suggest a formal or elegant setting, possibly from the late 19th century. The artist's use of bold colors and textures adds depth and dimension to the portrait.

This painting is reminiscent of the work of artists associated with the Impressionism movement.

Overview

Created in 1882 by Romanian sculptor and painter Carol Storck, the work titled Iulia Săulescu is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The piece is an oil portrait that presents a seated woman against a rich, deep‑red backdrop, emphasizing her presence through striking colour contrasts.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is depicted with short, tightly curled hair and a black hat trimmed with white feathers. She wears a black dress featuring a white ruffled collar, and a single pink rose is pinned to her chest. The composition suggests a formal, possibly social‑occasion portrait typical of the late nineteenth‑century bourgeois milieu.

Technique & Style

Storck employs a bold palette, juxtaposing the dark tones of the hat and dress with the vivid crimson background. The brushwork is loose enough to convey texture in the feathers and fabric, recalling the atmospheric qualities associated with Impressionist painters, while retaining a clear, representational focus on the figure.

History & Provenance

Since its completion, the portrait has remained in Romanian public collections, eventually being accessioned by the Museum of Ethnography. Its presence in an ethnographic institution highlights the work’s relevance to cultural and social history as well as to fine‑art practice.

Context

The portrait emerges at a time when Romanian artists were increasingly engaging with Western European artistic currents, especially French Impressionism. Storck’s choice of contemporary fashion and his handling of light and colour reflect this cross‑cultural exchange, situating the work within the broader narrative of 19th‑century Romanian art.

Artist & collection

Artist

Carol Storck

Carol Storck worked in late-19th- and early-20th-century Bucharest, where he specialized in portrait prints and small sculptures.