Elene dans la baignoire, version 2

Elene dans la baignoire, version 2, belongs to the tradition of portraiture, a genre central to the work of Nathanaëlle Herbelin. Those close to her — friends, family members, neighbours and sometimes strangers — are the recurring subjects of her canvases. Depicted in everyday moments, their gestures and expressions give form to the connection between personal experience and universal dimension. In a constant pursuit of representing intimacy, the artist reveals what is essential in the experience of living. A blend of tenderness and mystery emanates from the painting. The motif of the bath, frequently explored by the great masters of painting, speaks to the ongoing dialogue her practice maintains with the history of art.