Spanish school; c.1900.

Spanish school; c.1900.
"Portrait of a lady".
Oil on canvas.
Presents illegible signature in the lower right area.
Measurements: 94 x 78 cm; 97 x 89 cm (frame).
This portrait of a lady, made around 1900, presents a pictorial elaboration characteristic of the fin-de-siècle tradition, in which the elegance of the motif is combined with a luminous sensibility close to post-impressionism and certain modernist languages. The female figure is depicted in a softly twisted three-quarter length, with her torso partially uncovered and wrapped in a wide white shawl that accentuates the delicacy of the skin and underlines the intimate dimension of the scene. Her frontal and serene gaze, directed towards the viewer, introduces a subtle psychological game that contrasts with the gestural ease of the brushstroke.

The background, constructed with pink and violet glazes, is resolved in an atmospheric surface that avoids any specific spatial reference and concentrates the attention on the model. This chromatic choice, rich in warm shades, gives the whole an enveloping, almost vaporous aura, which harmonizes with the vibrant texture of the fabrics and with the light reflections that run across the surface. The artist demonstrates a remarkable technical skill in the transition between light and shadow, especially visible in the treatment of the shoulder and the face, where the tonal gradations model a naturalistic volume without renouncing a certain pictorial hedonism typical of the period. The result is a portrait of high compositional and stylistic quality, combining academic tradition with a modern sensibility.