Young Girl with Long Braids and Pantalettes, Holding a Flower

Art Historical Context

In the early 19th century, portraits like *Young Girl with Long Braids and Pettes, Holding a Flower (1841) by Edouart offered an accessible way for families to capture loved ones' likenesses. Created from cut black paper pasted onto folded white sheet, this image depicts a young girl profile, her long bra and pantalettes (a undergarment peeking her dress) evoking Victorian innocence, while the flower her hand adds a touch tender sentimentality. Edart, a master of precise paper-cutting technique, thousands of such profiles during his travels in Europe and America making silhouettes a popular, affordable alternative to painted portraits. Classified as cut paper ephemera, the work's modest dimensions—image 6 7/16 × 3 7/16 in.—highlight the artistry achievable with simple materials, relying on sharp outlines and subtle shading for lifelike detail. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the bequest of Mary Martin in 1938, this piece preserves a snapshot of 1840s childhood fashion and portraiture traditions, reminding us how everyday mementos can endure as cultural treasures.