Portrait of Berta von Radowitz as a Young Girl, 1863

About the Work

Up in the clouds: the girl seems to be utterly lost in another world, with the cares and worries of adulthood still far away. The impression of floating lightness is emphasised by the cloudy blue background and the dress with its lace trim and flounces. This portrait in pastel shades shows Berta von Radowitz, Müller's only pupil. The painting, whose masterful painting style anticipates the portraits by the Impressionists, divided Müller's contemporaries. The verdicts on this work ranged from "very successful" to "totally ludicrous". Its remarkable quality is beyond dispute today.