Signature Unclear (Lionel ? Elis)

Early 20th Century

A portrait of a young woman in an informal pose. Her features, momentarily relaxed, give a pensive and suggestive impression, leaving the viewer unsure as to whether her mouth is tightening in distaste or rising to form a smile. Her hair and clothing are depicted in loose, animated brushwork whilst the face itself is given subtle gradations in colour and hue, evocative of the movement of natural light across the skin.