de Quoi Ecrire Hermann Fenner Behmer

The composition presents a woman seated at a table, poised with a pen in hand, seemingly contemplating what to write. The setting is an interior space, defined by paneled walls that recede into a soft, undefined background. Light enters from the left, illuminating her face and upper body while casting the objects on the table in a gentle glow.
The woman’s attire – a pale lilac dress with a fur stole draped over her shoulders and a large-brimmed hat adorned with purple flowers – suggests a certain social standing and refinement. Her gaze is directed slightly downward, conveying an air of introspection or perhaps even mild frustration. The pose, with one hand resting thoughtfully on the table, reinforces this sense of deliberation.
The objects arranged on the table are significant. A glass of red wine sits alongside a carafe filled with water, hinting at both indulgence and restraint. Scattered sheets of paper bear fragments of text, adding to the impression that she is struggling with her writing. The repetition of purple – in the hat’s flowers and as an accent in the scattered papers – creates a visual harmony while also potentially symbolizing creativity or melancholy.
The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation and artistic struggle. Here we see not merely a portrait, but a depiction of the creative process itself – the moment before inspiration strikes, when the blank page looms large. The subtext speaks to the anxieties inherent in artistic creation: the pressure to produce, the uncertainty of expression, and the delicate balance between inspiration and self-doubt. The painting’s title, What to Write?, further emphasizes this central theme, inviting viewers to consider the internal dialogue that precedes any act of creation.