This delicate head study of the famed French actress Gabrielle Drunzer is one of several that Bouguerau realized in preparation for a formal portrait painted in 1889.

In July 1887, Bouguereau noted in his account books “Mademoiselle Gabrielle Drunzer-18 sittings: 90 F[rancs],” a substantial sum at the time. In an 1895 poll of Panorama readers, Gabrielle Drunzer was voted one of the most beautiful French actresses. In an article for L’Illustration, Léandre Vaillat wrote “there exist several study heads showing how Bouguereau worked. Some depict Italian models, others French models, and among the latter we are especially struck by the beauty of one young woman who was very well known in the studios of the time, namely Mademoiselle Drunzer, who later became an extremely popular actress in the Vaudeville theater” (Léandre Vaillat, Une résurrection de Bouguereau,” L’Illustration, January 22, 1921).

Drunzer posed for Bouguereau on several occasions, including his Chanson de printemps, painted in 1889 and exhibited at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1889 (no. 161), and Le Guêpier [The Wasp’s Nest], painted in 1892 and exhibited at that year’s Salon (no. 223).

Several black chalk figure studies in various poses surround the portrait and may relate to other projects.