In Paris, Bertha Wegmann painted this informal and sensitive portrait of Jeanna Bauck sitting on a table with a book in her hand. Next to the artist is a palette and brushes. The light falls in from the studio window, illuminating her curly hair. The forward-leaning pose contributes to the strong presence of the sitter and creates a sense of intimacy. The painting was awarded an honorable mention at the Paris Salon in 1881 and marked Wegmann’s breakthrough as a portraitist.