Inherited from the artist by Henri Guérard, Paris (1883)
Jeanne Gonzalès, inherited from above (1897)
Jean-Raimond Guérard, Paris (1924-1954)
Stephen Higgons, Paris
Kunsthalle Bremen, acquired from above (December 8,1960)
Girl Awakening is a portrait made by one of the four most famous Impressionists, Eva Gonzalès, in 1877/78. Being the only one official pupil of Eduoard Manet, Eva was heavily influenced by his teacher in her art style while simultaneously trying to make her own independent identity as an artist. The frame consists of the artist's close sister Jeanne Gonzalés who was often her model for her study and paintings. She shared a close bonding with her sister who supported her throughout her short lived career. Although she has never made a full portrait of herself but many portraits of her sister. The girl in this painting is captured just after being awake. Her eyes carried a dreamy and distant gaze with a subtle sleepy expression. The color pallette is soft with warm hues like beige, purple, blue, pink. The focus of Eva is on the black hair and delicate skin which contrast each other in a poetic sensibility. The backdrop is all-white which consists of the bed, the table, nightgown, sheets and curtains. This enhances the figure even more. Some researchers say, that Eva saw a reflection of herself in Jeanne due to same physical features and somewhat close appearance, that she represented her more beautifully than she could. Manet suggested her to paint the model nude but she decided to keep her character chaste keeping her subtly clothed, while giving it an intimate atmosphere from the way it is created. The eyes of the subject meet the observer in either contemplative or inviting manner. The artwork's impressionist brushstrokes provide a vibrancy and texture to the scene making it one of the most remarkable art pieces where women portray women in a way different from the ideal nude models of their era.
In this portrait, titled "Girl Awakening," Eva Gonzalès, portrays her sister, Jeanne Gonzalès, just after waking up. One can infer the intimate relationship between the two sisters, not only from the intimacy of observing someone just after waking, but also from the way Eva has beautifully presented her sister under warm and soft lighting. The warm lighting, combined with the intimacy of being allowed to witness such a private moment, feels almost like observing a beloved sister through the eyes of someone who loves her deeply. The painting also evokes the feeling of waking up in the morning, with sunlight falling gently across your face in the comfort of a familiar room.
