Mademoiselle Isabelle Lemonnier

Mademoiselle Isabelle Lemonnier, attributed to Édouard Manet French, 1832-1883, is an important example of the artist’s preliminary drawing technique. Executed in black crayon on cream wove tracing paper, this delicate work reveals the immediate capture of form favored by Manet throughout his career. The original tracing paper support has naturally discolored to a tan hue over time, a material condition typical of 19th-century works on paper. For preservation, the drawing was laid down onto a secondary, heavier sheet of ivory wove paper. Dating broadly between 1852 and 1883, the piece spans the height of Manet’s artistic production in France.

As a pivotal figure transitioning French art toward Impressionism, Manet frequently utilized simple mediums like crayon to study character and composition before committing to larger scale oil paintings. The intimate nature of this black crayon work suggests it served as a preparatory study for a portrait or as an aid in transferring a likeness. The subject, Isabelle Lemonnier, was a recognizable figure within Manet’s Parisian circle, further indicating the personal nature of the study. This drawing demonstrates Manet’s characteristic economy of line, focusing on essential contour and expression rather than superfluous detail.

Although the classification is drawing, works such as Mademoiselle Isabelle Lemonnier offer critical insight into the working methods of masters of modern art. The legacy of this piece is preserved in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, providing scholars and the public an intimate look at the great painter’s process. Given the work’s age and cultural significance, high-quality prints and references derived from this drawing are frequently made available through the public domain.