Portrait of Jules Bois

This pastel portrays Jules Bois (1868-1943): journalist, poet, Symbolist playwright and member of the Paris Rosicrucians. At the time, Schuffenecker was in close correspondence with Bois, and while the latter sat for this portrait, he was witness to the ethical and spiritual conflicts which led Schuffenecker to turn to theosophy. While he was working on Bois’ portrait, Schuffenecker was also writing an unprecedented essay on the subject of Paul Gauguin. The quill in the inkwell to the left symbolises writers.