An intimate early portrait of the artist's sister, Zélie, painted during Courbet's student years in Paris prior to his Realist breakthrough. The composition reflects 1840s Romantic conventions, marked by soft chiaroscuro modeling, a melancholic expression, and an ivy wreath crowning her hair. While lacking the dense texture and anti-academic defiance of his mature style, the work highlights Courbet's early proficiency in traditional portraiture and his lifelong commitment to painting his immediate family.