Tendres épanchements (Tender effusions)

César Gemayel was from the early generation of artists in Lebanon in the 20th century. His body of work reflected the different styles he had mastered throughout his career. Although he experimented with various genres, the Lebanese artist remains best known for his portraits, especially of women, as seen in the Tendres épanchements. Gemayel adapted a practice between classical painting and Impressionism and did not affiliate himself with a specific art movement. He applied a palette of light colors with dominant pastel hues and delicate brushstrokes to depict the portrait of a woman. In the portrait, Gemayel focused on the expressive, mystical dimension of the scene. The woman stares at the sky with a peaceful expression. There is a feeling of comfort or spiritual guidance that she may be seeking. The artist captured a moment of contemplation, revealing his sense of observation to explore a spiritual world detached from the modern development Lebanon had embarked on.