“Young Girl in Front of a Window”
Suzanne Valadon, 1930
Susanne Valadon (1865-1938) was a French artist and model, best remembered for her paintings of the Parisian avant-garde. Born Marie-Clémentine Valadon in Bessines-sur-Gartempe, France, she was the daughter of a seamstress and a farmer.
Montmartre, the bohemian quarter of Paris, was her home. She supported herself from the age of ten with odd jobs including a career as a circus acrobat which ended with a fall from a trapeze. She embraced a new direction, working as a model for many of the leading artists of the day, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Théophile Steinlen.
Suzanne began painting in the early 1890s, and in 1895 she exhibited her work at the Salon des Indépendants. She was one of the first female artists to gain recognition in the Parisian art world and was a member of the Société des Artistes Français.
Young Girl in Front of a Window by Suzanne Valadon captures the innocence and curiosity of a young girl. Painted in oil on canvas, this work of art was created in 1930.
The painting depicts a young girl standing in front of an open window, looking out into the world with a sense of wonder. The girl holds a vase of flowers positioned on a round wooden table. Viewers are drawn to the vibrant colours of the floral display and the fresh green of the garden beyond the open window. This painting is an important part of Suzanne’s oeuvre, and it is a testament to her skill as a painter.
Suzanne continued to paint until her death in 1938. Her works are held in numerous public and private collections, including the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. She is remembered as a pioneering female artist and a master of the avant-garde.
ChasingART 
This is a very pretty picture of a vase of flowers, and the girl is beautiful as well. This is a very interesting photo and article at the time, because it was painted in 1930, just around the time of my birth (1931) It is also very interesting to me because the girl was the daughter of a farmer and a seamstress. It is interesting, as well, because women painters were coming into a place in art history. This painting is a favorite of mine!
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I am delighted that you enjoyed this painting, Frances. I found it compelling how Suzanne Valadon brought nature into the window by way of the vibrant floral display.
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Hi Rebecca, an interesting painting. The girl is not beautiful.
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I love this Rebecca!
Crazy, but there are many rules in the world of art.
These rules have & are constantly being challenged and broken by some of my fave artists.
Are we drawing and painting to resemble real life? Valid, and I’m glad many did. It’s part of the record of what life looked like, before cameras.
Susanne Valadon is a rule breaker.
I’m going with that flow. Thank you for this!
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The style of the painting is distinctive, Rebecca. I’m not sure how I feel about it, since the girl’s expression is so hard to read. Funny how I don’t get a clear impression here. As you mentioned… Valadon’s complexity shows in this. Thanks for sharing the work and some history.
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Thank you for your insightful comment, Diana. We expect to understand faces, but Suzanne Valadon does not give us clarity which creates dissonance. You would be interested to know that her body of work has been of great interest to feminist art historians due to her focus on the female form. Her work was characterized by strong lines and was often candid and occasionally awkward. She offered an unique portrayal of women. She often depicted them in unconventional poses and situations, challenging the traditional roles assigned to them in art. Her work was celebrated for its honesty and rawness, which was quite rare for the time.
She painted a self-portrait when she was 66 which was on of the early examples of painters featuring her decline. Would I be so brave?
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Thanks for the additional background, Rebecca. Her approach and intent was interesting. I like learning about the artists that stepped outside the box. My grandmother (an oil painter) did a self portrait in her 70’s. It was amazingly quirky and odd, and so “her.” It’s one of my favorite pieces.
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How wonderful to have your grandmother’s self portrait. Age brings a sense of resolution, wisdom and understanding. I love the idea of being quirky. Did I tell you that I have a red hat and a purple cloak? “With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.” William Shakespeare.
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I’m not surprised at all. You Go!
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Thank you, Rebecca, for your much-appreciated continuing spotlight on talented women painters of the past who are not as known as they should be.
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Thank you Dave. Suzanne Valadon was unknown to me until recently. A woman artist in a male-dominated field made it difficult for her to gain recognition. Added to that was her unconventional lifestyle and subject matter, which were not widely accepted by society at the time. Despite these challenges, she persisted in her art and eventually gained recognition later in life. I find these back stories and connections fascinating. I just read that an asteroid (6937 Valadon) and a crater on Venus are named in her honour. Wouldn’t she be surprised!!!
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I’ve seen paintings with a similar style (Gauguin immediately came to mind), but there’s something a little unsettling about it. The girl doesn’t look particularly happy.
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Suzanne Valadon had a very interesting and complex life, which comes through in her painting. This quote embodies your insight: ““I paint with the stubbornness I need for living, and I’ve found that all painters who love their art do the same.” Suzanne Valadon I think that you will enjoy this painting by Renoir: Suzanne Valadon is depicted dancing in Dance at Bougival (1883), by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Thank you for your comments and visit. Very much appreciated.
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You’re welcome, Rebecca. I enjoyed the article you shared about her background. What an interesting life!
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I forgot to mention that when Suzanne was 18 she gave birth to a son, Maurice Utrillo, who became a painter who specialized in cityscapes.
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Thank you for the additional tidbit, Rebecca!
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