Juliette Courbet

French artist Gustave Courbet painted this portrait of his youngest sister Juliette in 1844, when she was thirteen years old. The painting shows an adolescent girl with an intense yet elusive gaze that creates an unsettled atmosphere. Courbet gave unusual attention to the interior setting, including a mirror that shows no reflection, a rare feature in his work since he generally preferred neutral backgrounds.

The light, soft tones and careful depiction of fabric suggest the influence of Ingres, who dominated French portraiture at the time. Courbet submitted this painting to the 1845 Salon jury "for a laugh" under the false title "The Baroness of M." The jury rejected it. Twelve years younger than Gustave, Juliette would remain close to her brother throughout his life and become his sole heir.

After Courbet's death, Juliette devoted herself to preserving his legacy, donating major works to French museums. In 1909, the Petit Palais in Paris received six paintings including this portrait, where it remains today. The canvas measures 77.5 by 62 cm.