Woman in Black who Watches the Pastel of Signora Emiliana Concha de Ossa

Giovanni Boldini's unusual painting depicts a woman in black observing a pastel portrait of Señora Emiliana Concha de Ossa — a Chilean woman who was one of his celebrated sitters and a prominent figure in Parisian society. Emiliana Concha de Ossa, wife of a Chilean diplomat, was among the Chilean and South American women who sought out Boldini for portraits in this period. The painting-within-a-painting structure creates a dialogue between mediums (oil versus pastel) and between sitters: the woman in black watching the pastel portrait is herself watched by us. This meta-pictorial dimension was unusual even for the image-conscious Boldini.

Boldini's signature fluid, whiplash brushwork animates the black dress with the suggestion of movement even in stillness. The woman's posture of contemplation before the portrait creates a vertical axis of attention. The contrast between the lively oil handling and the chalky softness of the pastel being observed gives the work structural interest.