The Kaunitz Sisters (Leopoldine, Caroline, and Ferdinandine)

Three young women, likely sisters, are captured in this intimate graphite drawing, their gazes gentle and composed. The subtle variations in their expressions and postures suggest distinct personalities, even within the unifying elegance of their attire. The central figure, perhaps the eldest, holds a small, delicate fan, a common accessory of the era that hints at their social standing. The artist has meticulously rendered the textures of their clothing and hair, from the soft folds of fabric to the carefully arranged curls framing their faces. This work, created in 1818, exemplifies the Neoclassical ideal of refined beauty and precise draftsmanship, a style that valued clarity and idealized forms. It is a quiet moment, yet one imbued with a sense of grace and timelessness, reflecting the artist's dedication to capturing individual likenesses with understated dignity.