Jean Gabriel Domergue (1889 – 1962) graduated from the École des Beaux–Arts in Paris. He was frequently awarded for his exhibited works. In his work he dealt with portraiture and figural painting in the style of 18th century masters. He was also an illustrator of magazines, an organizer of exhibitions, and he also collaborated with fashion designers*.
Description of the painting:
The painting “Żółta suknia” is a full-length portrait of a young woman, shown in profile from the left. She is dressed in a yellow dress, whose upper part reveals her shoulders and neckline. After a clear cut at the waist, it passes into a voluminous skirt reaching the ground with a turn-up. A black lace shawl is thrown over her shoulders. In her left hand is a richly decorated hat with a large round. Attached to it on one side is a bouquet of red flowers, and on the other a white grand bow. A gold bracelet is visible on her right hand. The woman’s face is turned towards the left lower corner of the painting. It is clear that she is heavily made up – her lips are painted with red lipstick, her cheekbones are highlighted with intense pink. A musket is visible on her left cheek. Her eyes are slightly closed, her eyelashes are clear, as if painted with mascara. Her hair is pinned up in a hairstyle made up of snails from plaited braids. The woman poses against a pond surrounded by statues in a park. The upper part of the background is the sky covered with clouds, on which the colors of the setting sun can be seen.
Looking at the portrait, the first thing that catches the eye is the woman’s outfit. It seems that the painter put the greatest emphasis on it, which corresponds to his interests. Domergue was also involved in fashion design, and was also a judge in a beauty contest. The woman depicted in the painting thus plays the role of a model for the creation, which is the subject of the painting “Yellow Dress”. The artist transferred the styling to the canvas, showing the differences in the textures of the suit. Through the play of sunlight, the dress seems to be made of satin fabric and takes on an almost golden color. He also pays attention to the accessories that complete the styling, which the model presents – an ornate hat, a lace shawl and a bracelet. The artist also portrayed the possible fashion makeup and a meticulously arranged hairstyle on the model’s face. The painting, by highlighting the outfit, seems to be an illustration for a fashion magazine.