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La Madrileñita

A work made of oil on canvas.

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  • A work made of oil on canvas.

Date:

1910

Artist:

Robert Henri
American, 1865–1929

About this artwork

Robert Henri dedicated his career to painting portraits of those he called “my people,” namely, sitters who evoked a personal response in the artist. He found many appealing subjects while traveling in Spain, including matadors and picadors, gypsies, dressmakers, and performers. Henri admired the subject of La Madrileñita, a 15-year-old dancer named Josefa Cruz, for her talent and traditional training, as he later recalled: “Although very young she was already a very remarkable dancer at the time the painting was done, and it seemed to me that she had in her carriage … much of the spirit and dignity of old Spain.” Henri painted six
portraits of Cruz; in this version, completed over the course of two days, she turns her head to look over her shoulder, directly engaging the viewer in a poised and assured manner. Her enigmatic smile bears a sense of mystery that is heightened by the darkness beyond.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of the Americas

Artist

Robert Henri

Title

La Madrileñita

Place

Spain (Object made in:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1910

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

58.4 × 48.3 cm (23 × 19 in.)

Credit Line

Bequest of Barbara S. Danielson

Reference Number

2014.1000

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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