Young Girl Reclining (Le Sommeil)
Drawing on paper / Pastel drawing • Attributed to or Manner of Berthe Morisot or Mary Cassatt
Style & Movement
Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Pastel on paper (likely grey or tan toned). Technique involves expressive hatching, stumping for skin tones, and heavy impasto-like application of white pastel to simulate the texture of lace and light.
Creation Period
Circa 1885-1895
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 18 x 14 inches (visual estimate); vertical portrait orientation.
Subject Description
A young woman in a white frilled dress is shown reclining in a state of sleep or repose on a plush green sofa. Beside her sits a straw hat, and a parasol or light-colored canopy provides shade in the background. The composition is intimate and captures a fleeting, private moment, typical of female Impressionist subject matter which often focused on the domestic sphere and 'le repos'.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The colors appear vibrant, though there is some light visible smudging characteristic of the pastel medium.
Estimated Market Value
$10,000 - $35,000 (depending on authentication)
Auction Estimate
$15,000 - $25,000
Provenance History
Unknown; stylistic features suggest a European or American private collection with an affinity for 19th-century French Impressionist works.
Art Historical Significance
The work reflects the Impressionist preoccupation with light and the mundane domestic lives of women. It closely mirrors the stylistic choices of Berthe Morisot, particularly in the loose, diagonal strokes of the background and the 'sketchy' finish that was revolutionary for its time, challenging the academic standards of 'finished' art.
Notable Features
Highly energetic white pastel work on the dress creates a sense of shimmering light; the use of the paper's base color as a mid-tone is a masterful use of the medium; absence of a visible signature suggests it may be a study for a larger oil painting.
Condition Issues
Possible minor foxing or oxidation of the paper support in the upper-right corner; slight flattening of pastel pigments if previously compressed under glass; minor edge wear obscured by the matting.
Conservation Recommendations
Should be mounted using acid-free, archival materials with a spacer between the artwork and the UV-protective glass to prevent pastel transfer. Keep in a climate-controlled environment away from direct sunlight to prevent pigment fading.