Edgar Maxence was born in 1871. At the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Maxence studied under Gustave Moreau. Like his teacher, Maxence regained recognition as a French symbolist painter. By specializing in medieval and mythical subjects his hermetic works were featured in exhibitions at the Salon des Artistes from 1894 until 1939. From 1895 to 1897 he exhibited at Sar Péladan’s Salon de la Rose+Croix.

Often reverting to young women in prayer or contemplation, the present Young Breton Woman in Contemplation is typical for Maxence’s focus on an intimate rendering of a single subject’s introspection. Similar in spirit to medieval times, the traditional costumes worn by the inhabitants of Brittany reveal a life frozen in time. Largely untouched by the modernization and industrialization of the dominating cities, Brittany was already a famous artists destination by the beginning of the twentieth century.

Representing the embodiment of devotion and piety, the present drawing testifies to the religious concerns of Maxence. Seated in Brittany’s Land of Retz, home of the artist, a young woman in medieval costume is in a dreamy state of mind. In search for idealism and mysticism, Maxence’s model transports us to a glamorized portrayal of the bygone.