We are delighted to announce the latest addition to The Bennett Collection, a captivating 1944 portrait by the German-born artist Karin van Leyden. Titled Portrait of a New York Debutante – Lucille B Harris, this work captures a pivotal moment in the life of a young woman at the height of American high society.
The painting provides a glimpse into Mid-Century elegance, painted in April 1944, the portrait depicts Lucille Baldwin Harris at just sixteen years old, shortly after her "coming out"; into New York society. As the daughter of George Upham Harris—a prominent figure who held a seat on the New York Stock Exchange—Lucille’s debutante ball was a hallmark event of the era. The painting beautifully preserves the grace of a young woman destined for a life in the public eye; she would later become the socialite Mrs. Amory Sibley Carhart and grace the pages of Vogue Magazine as a guest model during the 1950s.
Karin van Leyden (1906–1977) was a "society painter"; in the truest sense. After fleeing war-torn Europe for Los Angeles in 1941, she and her husband, Ernst van Leyden (artist), became fixtures of the Hollywood art scene. Karin’s sophisticated style led to high-profile commissions, including:
- Portraits of celebrities including Hollywood legends Rita Hayworth and Tyrone Power.
- And iconic murals at locations such as the Beverly Hills Hotel where it is still can be viewed.
Van Leyden was celebrated for her ability to strip away redundant details, focusing instead on the "power of her characters"; and "authentic realities". This acquisition reinforces to celebrate extraordinary women figurative realists whose work provides a vital window into the female experience across history.