Untitled (student drawing after Alphonse Mucha)

In a few instances, we see Shonnard looking directly at Mucha’s work for stylistic inspiration. A small drawing from 1907 may well be mistaken for a sketch by Mucha has Shonnard not signed it herself. The composition it typical to Mucha’s figurative portraits, with a young woman situated in a well delineated and shallow pictorial space, with no suggestion of background or context. The young woman is wrapped in the flowing gossamer gown and holds a large bouquet of flowers close to her chest. The portrait is set into a decorate flame of flowing botanical abstraction, to cool tones of the exterior framing device contrasting with the warmer coloration of the portrait. Though an admirable study of the master’s style, closer inspection betrays this piece as a skilled student work. At this moment, Shonnard does not exhibit to bold confidence in line that is a defining aspect of Mucha’s style, nor does she show demonstrate the same delicate understanding of the figure, which she appears to still be working through in this drawing.