A Young Woman in the Play Hamlet

Xu Beihong brought these two works by Pascal Dagnan-Bouveret to China. This series of work held in the collection of the Xu Beihong Memorial Hall shows this Chinese master’s special affection for Dagnan-Bouveret. When he saw this painting Ophelia in a Paris shop in autumn 1925, Xu wanted to buy it for his collection. As a result, he went to Singapore and raised the funds with the help of some friends. The lower left corner of this portrait contains the following dedication: “To Xu Beihong, May the happy memories last forever, Pascal Dagnan-Bouveret.”
-Philippe Cinquini