Jean-Jacques Henner (1829–1905) - Donna che legge

Jean-Jacques Henner's art (1829–1905) is often described as elusive because it sits in a magnetically borderland: suspended between the rigor of academic art and the dreamlike evocations of Symbolism. Known for his female nudes immersed in nature, for religious scenes, and for intense portraits, Henner was an absolute master at shaping figures that seem not to belong entirely to the real world, but to have just emerged from a mythical or spiritual dimension.

The obsession with red hair: Henner's portraits—many of which feature a model with magnetic red hair repeatedly painted by the artist—stand out for the stark contrast between ivory complexions, coppery locks, and dark, undefined backgrounds.