An unusual early-20th-century portrait of a lady in a beautiful black blouse with floral embellishments. She’s wearing the fashion-a-la-mode as, during the 1910s, blouses were often enhanced with the addition of decorative elements while hair was usually parted in the centre.

The sitter bears a striking resemblance to the artist’s sister, Rosa Brackenhammer (1871-1946), who was cello virtuoso. Perhaps this was a study ahead of a finished piece or simply a quick sketch during a time at the family home.

Rudolf Brackenhammer (b.1876) trained at the Munich Academy and all four of his siblings pursued creative endeavours.

The painting is signed in the lower right and housed within a later frame.