This mid-20th-century oil painting by Swiss artist Erwin Leopold Pohl (1896-1977) depicts a seated woman wearing a headscarf.

Dressed in simple everyday clothing, she sits quietly holding an open book, her head wrapped in a white scarf and her gaze meeting the viewer. Soft daylight falls across her face, bringing warmth to her flushed cheeks. Her grey blouse is enlivened by bright red buttons and a striking scarlet belt that contrasts with the muted background. 

Perhaps the most engaging aspect of the painting is its sense of familiarity. One senses that the artist knew his sitter well. Her relaxed posture, the casually held book and the absence of any grand surroundings suggest someone observed in the course of everyday life.

Painted in the first year after the Second World War, the portrait also reflects a wider return to ordinary life. Across Europe, artists increasingly turned their attention away from conflict and towards quieter, more intimate subjects. There's a sense of stability at a moment when many people were rebuilding their lives.

Having studied in Vienna, Pohl later absorbed aspects of German Expressionism in Berlin. This range of influences led to a style which was underpinned by careful draughtsmanship while embracing a more painterly handling of colour and light. 

Signed/dated in the upper left and held in a gilt frame with a delicate foliate design, which is possibly original.

Learn more about Erwin Leopold Pohl in our directory.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 30½” x 39” / 78cm x 99cm
Year of creation: 1946
Labels & Inscriptions: Label on the back with details about the artist.
Provenance: Private collection, Germany.
Condition: Cleaned. Later stretcher. Frame in excellent condition.
Artist’s auction maximum: £4,000 achieved in 2004 for ‘Saxofonbläser’.
Our reference: BRV2356