Young Woman Portrait Appraisal

Portrait of a Young Woman with Floral Shawl by Rouchard (1980)

This is an oil painting depicting a half-length portrait of a young woman. The subject has long, light-colored, wavy hair that falls over her shoulders. Her gaze is directed straight ahead, with a somewhat somber or pensive expression. Her eyes appear dark and deeply set, with prominent lower eyelids. She is bare-chested, with her left breast fully visible and her right breast partially obscured behind a colorful garment she is wearing over her left shoulder and arm. This garment is a key visual element, featuring vibrant floral motifs in red, orange, pink, yellow, and white on a dark, possibly black or deep green, background. A large, abstract pink shape resembling a fan or a stylized petal is prominent on the upper left of the garment. The background of the painting is a muted, dark blue-grey, with softer, lighter brushstrokes creating a subtle atmospheric effect, possibly indicating light sources or a hazy environment. The painting technique appears to be alla prima or direct painting, with visible brushstrokes contributing to the texture and a somewhat raw, expressive quality. The skin tones of the subject are rendered in a realistic, yet painterly, manner. The overall condition is described as good, suggesting minimal to no significant damage or degradation to the paint surface. The artwork is housed in a simple, traditional gold-colored wooden frame with a clean, polished finish. The signature 'Rouchard' and the year '1980' are visible in the upper left corner, indicating the artist and the creation date. The composition focuses on the figure, with the colorful shawl adding dynamic contrast and visual interest to the otherwise subdued palette of the background and the figure's skin.