Woman at a Piano

The 1870s marked an important period in Boldini's oevure. Following his move to Paris in 1871, he befriended Degas, Manet and Sisley, but the most formative influence on his work during these years was Ernest Meissonier. Meissonier was arguably the most highly regarded artist of the time and he wielded immense power within official circles. His paintings commanded high figures and he controlled his own Salon. Boldini incorporated Meissonier's highly detailed style into his own more painterly technique. The resulting images quickly earned Boldini the attention of dealers like Adolphe Goupil, who recognized the ready market for his pictures and commissioned works from him. Whereas Meissonier had favored military and courtier subjects, Boldini chose to depict scenes of contemporary life in Paris. Typical of these "cabinet" pictures, Woman at Piano shows a beautiful woman absorbed by her music, posed naturalistically and painted with characteristically fluid brushstrokes and jewel-like colors.