À propos de l’œuvre
Eugénie Graff (Madame Paul, par Claude Monet
Claude Monet · Pourville · 1882 · W745
Eugénie Graff (Madame Paul) W745hand painted reproduction
Eugénie Graff smiles at a vibrant blue background, her little Follette burrow installed against her and facing the viewer. Painted in Pourville in 1882, this oil portrait on canvas measuring 65 × 54.5 cm is kept at the Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum under number 1955.98 and corresponds to Wildenstein 745.
Look at the work
A portrait of friendship where the dog becomes the second look
The framing cuts the bust as closely as possible and focuses attention on Eugénie's inclined face. Her black dress partially blends into the bottom of the canvas; the white bow at the neck and the light muzzle of Follette structure the whole.
The background is constructed by touches of light blue, turquoise, lilac and white. These same cool tones glide through the hair, dress and shadows of the face, while the pink and brown skin tones give warmth and presence to the model.
Follette is the only one to look directly at the viewer: this detail transforms an intimate portrait into a lively and complicit scene.
Composition, touch and light
What Monet builds behind the impression of snapshot
Three precise elements allow us to understand this composition and the essential difficulties of faithful reproduction.
A face shaped by short touches
Monet does not soften wrinkles or volumes. Small juxtaposed lines of pink, ocher, blue and purple reveal the expression without strong drawing.
Black treated like a color
The dress and hair never form a flat area. Blue, green and brown animate the dark areas and connect them to the background.
A set designed with two other paintings
Harvard indicates that this portrait responded to that of Paul-Antoine Graff and a still life representing Eugénie's butter pancakes. The two spouses directed their gaze towards this third painting.
Reference image
Read this specific version
Only one exact image of W745 is used. The real WebP measures 2037 × 2400 px and retains full portrait framing without artificial enlargement.
Preserve the restrained smile
Expression depends on very fine nuances around the eyes and mouth. Too clear contours would harden the face and eliminate its benevolence.
Keep Follette clearly legible
The dog remains integrated into the dark coat but its eyes, snout and ears must retain their presence. His gaze constitutes the essential counterpoint of the portrait.
Maintain the vibration of the blue background
The keys should not be smoothed into a uniform surface. Their light variation makes the model breathe and reminds us of Monet's speed of execution.
Documented benchmarks
Three pieces of information specific to this work
The Harvard Art Museums documents Eugénie Graff (Madame Paul), oil on canvas from 1882, 65 × 54.5 cm, signed lower left, inventory 1955.98 and Wildenstein 745.
Monet's hotelier in Pourville
Eugénie Lavergne Graff (1819 -1891) ran with her husband Paul-Antoine the hotel-restaurant where Monet stayed for two months. The painting is born from this daily proximity.
Follette, the familiar burrow
The museum identifies Eugénie's little dog and emphasizes that he is the only character in the group of paintings to stare at the viewer.
A donation from the Wertheim Fund in 1955
After several European collections, the work entered the Fogg Museum as a donation from the Wertheim Fund, Inc. It is now presented in the Maurice Wertheim collection.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
Fidelity here depends on precise relationships between light, touch, depth and color temperature.
- The Wildenstein 745 version
- Eugenie Graff's smile
- The direct gaze of the Follette burrow
- The blue and lilac touches of the background
Work sheet
| Title | Eugénie Graff (Madame Paul) W745 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Claude Monet (1840 -1926) |
| Date | 1882 |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 65 × 54.5 cm |
| Orientation | Vertical |
| Conservation | Harvard Art Museums /Fogg Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States |
| Inventory | 1955.98 · Wildenstein 745 |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
Presentation in your interior
A palette designed with the room
This intimate portrait is suitable for a library, bedroom or living room. A gray blue, ivory or warm brown wall and a dark wooden frame highlight the face and bright background.
