An arresting oil on canvas portrait by the French artist Albert Coste, signed and dated 1943. The subject, a sophisticated woman of a certain age and fair complexion, is illuminated by the sun coming in from the nearby window, forming a corona of her hair as she sits in a blue bergere by an open secretary desk. She stops her correspondence to indulge the artist by sitting for this portrait, her left hand (note the red fingernails matching the red of her lips) holding a book. Her right arm rests on the manchette of the chair, as her fingers delicately touch the cheek. Recently framed in natural oak molding that complements the palette. Signed by the artist to the lower right. Please view the detailed images to see more of this thought-provoking work.