Inspired by Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684 – 1721) – Study of a woman seen from the back (1716 – 1718) – Black stone / Red chalk / White chalk on grey paper – 9,45 x 12,60 inch

Her shoulder-length hair with reddish blonde reflections is delicately pulled back up into a blurry bun and cleverly hidden by a veil matched to her dress. Her light makeup highlights bright blue eyes almond-shaped and a pulpy mouth, a sign showing she is barely out of childhood. The teenager attends her first ball tonight. She is 16 years old.Her mother bought her a dress last week to be presented to society, as she said. Eleanor fell under the spell of a long white silk taffeta dress inlaid with orange silk sateen strips that shows off her young girl’s slim waist and and rounded and milky white breasts. A huge bow down to the small of her back and long shaped sleeves suit perfectly the clothing which will delight any man regardless of their age and condition. Her mother slightly hesitated but the astonishing smile of her eldest daughter convinced her. While Eleanor gazes at herself in the mirror in detail, her mother comes in to her bedroom out of the blue, a box in her left hand that she kindly hands to her daughter. The latter, mutinous, opens the gift neatlly packed. In a white tissue paper a pearl necklace escapes. Their sparkle, their softness, moves the teenager to tears. She instantly recognizes the jewel contained in the painting of her maternal great-grandmother, the one in the corridor on the first floor among all her ancestors’ paintings.

The music resonates along the corridors. It is about time for Eleanor to enter the lounge holding her five year older cousin’s arm. When the swinging doors open, the young woman is, first of all, thrilled with the crystal chandeliers sparkling, and then comes the violins playing on a possessed waltz. She clearly hears the women whispers as she moves towards the center of the room. Pierre, her cousin, then faces her and wraps her waist to lead her in an amazing choreography that turns heads. Just a few laps and they are slightly pushed by another couple. A huge man with prominent muscles catches Eleanor by her delicate arm just in time. The hold badly hurts her but the sharp black eye of the stranger entirely astonishes her and instantly numbs the strong pain. This is Eleanor’s choice.