Young Girl from Pont-Aven

Henry Mosler arrived in France in 1866, three years after Wylie, and made his first trip to Brittany in 1875. He explored the landscapes of Pont-Aven and Le Pouldu with his friend William Picknell, and later with Henry Moret. In Paris, Mosler had a large collection of traditional Breton accessories and costumes, testifying to his interest in Breton tradition. In this canvas, the artist employs an academic style to portray a young Pont-Aven girl wearing a folded (not pleated) collar and an embroidered bodice. Her dark clothing harks back to the War of 1870