Portret (Lucie van Dam van Isselt) - Lucie van Dam van Isselt

A delicate profile portrait in pastel by Dutch artist Lucie van Dam van Isselt, capturing the subject with direct, economical mark-making.

This portrait by Lucie van Dam van Isselt captures a subject in profile, rendered with the directness characteristic of her practice. The artist, born in Geertruidenberg, was a painter and draughtsman known for her ability to distill a likeness through economical mark-making. In this work, the subject is positioned against a neutral, unprimed paper background, which serves as a mid-tone to unify the composition.

The application of pastel is deliberate and restrained. Van Dam van Isselt focuses on the structural planes of the face, using soft transitions to define the jawline and the bridge of the nose. The hair is blocked in with darker, heavier strokes, providing a visual anchor that contrasts with the lighter, warmer tones of the skin. A subtle touch of yellow in the clothing adds a point of colour, drawing the eye toward the lower portion of the frame without distracting from the facial features.

Van Dam van Isselt studied at the Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten in Rotterdam and later in Paris. Her work often reflects the influence of the Hague School, though she maintained a distinct approach to portraiture that prioritised psychological presence over academic finish. The visible texture of the paper remains an active participant in the image, allowing the viewer to observe the artist's process. This piece functions as a study of form and light, demonstrating the artist's capacity to convey character through minimal means. The signature in the lower right corner confirms the work as an authentic example of her hand, reflecting her preference for intimate, observational subjects.