Red Headed Woman
Created in the 1930s, Red Headed Woman by Pearl Alice Frush Brudon (1907 – 1986) is a striking example of the artist’s delicate use of soft tones and detailed rendering of feminine beauty. Known for her sensitive portrayals of women in serene and almost ethereal settings, Brudon captures a moment of grace in the life of a young woman, likely inspired by the artistic traditions of the early 20th century. The piece, executed with smooth brushstrokes and a light color palette, is a tribute to the realism and beauty of American portraiture during the era.
At the forefront of this portrait is the woman herself, her soft red curls cascading elegantly around her face, framed by a large, pale hat adorned with a pink flower. This hat, a defining feature of the subject, gives her an air of sophistication and youthful vitality. Her facial expression is serene yet enigmatic, with a hint of a smile that evokes a sense of quiet confidence.
The soft pink of her lips contrasts subtly with the gentle tones of her complexion, accentuating the softness of her features. The eyes are a focal point of the portrait; they are wide, captivating, and appear to be gazing directly at the viewer with a gaze that feels both distant and intimate.
The background of the painting, consisting of lush, blurry greens and soft washes of color, suggests an outdoor setting, perhaps a garden or a meadow. The hazy greens surrounding her lend a sense of tranquility and isolation from the world, suggesting that the subject exists in a peaceful moment of solitude. The leaves and blurred foliage contribute to a sense of dreamlike beauty, as if the woman is part of the landscape itself.
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Artistic Style and Technique
Frush Brudon’s work in Red Headed Woman is rooted in the fine art traditions of realism, though her approach veers towards a slightly more romantic and idealized depiction of the female form. The artist uses soft, almost pastel-like colors, particularly in the skin tones, creating a smooth and luminous effect that gives the subject a timeless quality. The rendering of the woman’s features is highly detailed, from the delicate structure of her face to the intricate texture of her hair, yet the overall tone of the painting remains soft and smooth, avoiding any harsh lines or sharp contrasts.
The hat, with its wide brim and gentle curves, is another notable feature of the painting, contributing to the sense of softness and grace. Its white color provides a stark contrast to the warmth of the woman’s complexion and the gentle greens of the background. The flower at the side of the hat further adds to the softness of the subject, enhancing the delicacy of the image and the mood of the painting.
In terms of technique, Frush Brudon employed a careful application of color and light, giving the portrait a sense of depth despite its simplicity. The background, though blurry, creates a natural environment that enhances the subject’s ethereal presence. The use of light, particularly on the woman’s face and the flower in her hair, draws the viewer’s attention to her delicate features while also allowing the viewer to appreciate the full, soft rendering of the painting.
The Theme and Mood of the Artwork
The theme of Red Headed Woman is one of timeless femininity and quiet beauty. The woman depicted is not in the midst of any grand activity; instead, she is captured in a moment of calm repose, inviting the viewer to appreciate her in a more contemplative and intimate manner.
The soft, hazy background enhances the sense of isolation, almost as if the viewer is witnessing an intimate glimpse into a private moment of the subject’s life. There is a sense of serenity in the painting, and the way in which the subject interacts with the natural surroundings emphasizes a deep connection between the woman and the world around her.
The choice of a red-headed woman is significant, as it highlights an unusual beauty that was not as frequently celebrated in art at the time. Her hair, rich in color and volume, contrasts beautifully with the soft tones of the rest of her features and the setting, further emphasizing her individuality and uniqueness. This red hair, along with the softness of the colors, suggests both warmth and delicacy, key qualities of femininity that are captured in this portrait.
The mood of the artwork is peaceful and reflective, evoking feelings of calm and admiration for the quiet beauty of the subject. It presents the viewer with a sense of tranquility, as if the moment captured in time is one of pure contentment. There is no rush or hurry in the portrait; the subject exists in a perfect, untroubled moment of grace.
Materials and Medium
While the exact materials used by Frush Brudon in Red Headed Woman are not definitively documented, it is likely that the artist employed oil paints, as was common during this period for portraiture. Oil paints allow for the fine blending of colors and the smooth transitions between shades that are seen in the soft rendering of the skin tones and the gentle transitions in the background. The luminous quality of the portrait, along with the delicate brushstrokes seen in the details of the woman’s face and hair, suggest that oil was the medium of choice for this piece.
This is a retouched digital art old masters reproduction of a public domain image.
Artist Bio Is Derived From Wikipedia.org
Pearl Alice Frush was born in Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa on 1907; when she was young her family moved to the Mississippi Gold Coast and began her artistic studies in New Orleans, Philadelphia and New York City and then at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago which is associated with the Art Institute of Chicago.
During the late 1930s and early 1940s Pearl did freelance advertising work in Chicago included Vogue-Wright Studios, Sundblom, Johnson & White, and Gerlach Barklow Co.
These companies published much of her successful pinup girl calendar art, including Liberty Belles, Girls of Glamour, and Glamour Round the Clock.
Pearls was one of three top female pinup glamour artist which included Joyce Ballantyne (1918 – 2006), and Zoë Mozert (1907 – 1993) that were highly successful in the pin-up girl illustration artwork that was dominated by Alberto Vargas (1896 – 1982), George Petty (1894 – 1975), Gil Elvgren (1914 – 1980), Bill Medcalf (1920 – 2005), Rolf Armstrong (1889 – 1960) and several others.
