Female portrait in profile — Sanguine tone print, 20th century — M. J. Baixeras

A delicate profile portrait of a woman, executed in reddish tones on cream-colored paper, depicting a young woman with soft features, downcast eyes, and her hair tied back. The composition stands out for the elegance of its drawing and the use of a monochromatic palette that accentuates the serenity of the figure.

The face is defined by fine lines and careful treatment of shadows. The forehead, nose, lips, and chin are outlined with great subtlety, while the hair, arranged in a low bun, features more elaborate shading that adds depth and volume. The neck and shoulders are rendered with light strokes, leaving large areas of the paper untouched.

The work relates to the tradition of academic portraiture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, both for its idealized treatment of features and for the economy of means used to represent the human figure.

In the lower margin, there is a reddish cursive inscription accompanied by an elongated paraph. On the right side, there is also the name "M. J. Baixeras", printed in typographic characters.

The combination of academic-inspired drawing, the delicacy of its tones, and the preserved inscriptions gives the piece a particular interest within the figurative graphics of the period.

Technical Sheet

• Title: Female profile portrait (descriptive title).

• Authorship: Inscription "M. J. Baixeras". Red cursive signature, incomplete reading.

• Technique: Graphic composition in sanguine tone on paper. Execution procedure pending identification.

• Work dimensions: 28.5 × 22 cm.

• Dimensions with frame: 29.5 × 23 cm.

• Period: 20th century, approximate chronology.

• Style: Academic portraiture and classical figuration.

• Inscriptions: Reddish cursive signature and paraph in the lower margin; name "M. J. Baixeras" printed vertically on the right side.

• Condition: Paper with a slightly yellowed tone, small scattered oxidation spots, and some localized chromatic alterations, especially in the left margin. The composition is preserved intact.

• Presentation: Gilded frame with a maroon mat.

Workshop Note

This piece highlights the delicacy of the female profile and the subtlety with which the features are constructed using reddish lines and soft tonal gradations. The absence of accessory elements focuses all attention on the expression and the arrangement of the hair, evoking the tradition of academic portraiture.

The preservation of the original inscriptions, especially the name "M. J. Baixeras" and the cursive paraph in the lower margin, adds historical and documentary interest to this intimate composition.