Portrait of Madame Paul Guillaume with a Large Hat by André Derain

This superb portrait of an elegant lady belongs to the artist’s classical period, characterized by a simplification of forms and a return to the figurative tradition. Naturally integrating the name of the painter Derain André, this work entitled “Portrait of Madame Paul Guillaume with a Large Hat” exudes great distinction.

The young woman is shown from the front, wearing a large golden-yellow straw hat that surrounds her head like a protective halo. She wears a cream-colored dress whose fringed drapery falls over her shoulders and arms, while her hands, adorned with a watch, are crossed over her lap draped in black. The background is brushed in shades of brown and warm ocher. Her light eyes and rosy cheeks give her face a serene expression.

This portrait shows the painter’s immense technical talent in restoring the precious finish of fabrics and the transparency of the straw. His mastery of composition lends the subject a timeless presence.