A woman enjoys a moment of silent reflection while resting her guitar on her thigh. Her beautifully embroidered bolero - a short jacket associated with bullfighting - is lined with red satin and her pink dress follows the outline of her body. The monogram at the top right consists of the letters "L" and "V" but the identity of the woman is unknown. The painting evokes the sights and sounds of Spain, and we can imagine that the subject is a flamenco artist. Flamenco - a folkloric musical tradition that includes song and dance - is associated with southern Spain. Boldini and other 19th century European artists were fascinated by Spain, especially the southern region, whose culture was shaped by Muslim Arabs; many Europeans saw it as an exotic environment. In the 1870s, after moving to Paris, Boldini painted scenes from Spain several times, inspired by the Spanish painter Mariano Fortuny (1838-1874), who worked with free brushstrokes in vivid colours.
