Mme. Abbema wears her hair short, and affects such absolute simplicity in her costume that at first sight she reminds one of a charming young man. In no other direction, however, is there a masculine touch about this delightful artist. She has feminine grace, a love for poetry, a passion for flowers, which she often introduces in her pictures; she has, in short, a truly womanly character, which appears in the refinement and attractiveness of her work.
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Abbott, Katherine G. Bronze medal, Paris Exposition, 1900; honorable mention, Buffalo Exposition, 1901.
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Achille-Fould, Mlle. Georges. Medal, third class, Versailles, 1888; honorable mention, Paris Salon, 1894; medal, third class, 1895; medal, second class, 1897; Hors Concours; bronze medal at Paris Exposition, 1900. Officer of Public Instruction; member of the Société des Artistes Français. Born at Asnières (Seine). Pupil of Cabanel, Antoine Vollon, and Léon Comerre.
A painter of figure subjects and portraits. Several of her works are in private collections in the United States. Among these are the "Flower-Seller," the "Knife-Grinder," "M. de Richelieu's Love Knots," exhibited in the Salon of 1902, and "Going to School."
"The Dull Season" is in London; "Cinderella" and many others in Paris.
This artist, when still in short skirts, sent her first picture, "In the Market Place," to the Salon of 1884. She is most industrious, and her history, as she herself insists, is in her pictures. She has been surrounded by a sympathetic and artistic atmosphere. Her mother was an art critic, who, before her second marriage to Prince Stirberg, signed her articles Gustave Haller. Her home, the Château de Bécon, is an ideal home for an artist, and one can well understand her distaste for realism and the professional model.
"M. de Richelieu's Love Knots" is very attractive and was one of the successes of 1902. He is a fine gentleman to whom a bevy of young girls is devoted, tying his ribbons, and evidently admiring him and his exquisite costume. The girls are smiling and much amused, while the young man has an air of immense satisfaction.
At the Salon of 1903 Mlle. Fould exhibited "La Chatouilleuse"—Tickling—and "Nasturtiums." The first shows a young woman seated, wearing a décolleté gown, while a mischievous companion steals up behind and tickles her neck with a twig. It is less attractive than many of this artist's pictures.