Commanding in size, Portrait de Mathilde See fully displays Helleu's mastery over the medium of pastel. The muted palette of greys and blues is typical of the artist, bringing a harmony and cohesiveness to the composition. Furthermore, Helleu cleverly alludes to See's own artistic output with a backdrop of vibrant floral blooms, enlivening the canvas and complementing the greens and blues of the peacock feather adorning her hat.

The portrait is all the more significant thanks to its provenance. It was previously in the collection of A. Alfred Taubman, one of America's most successful entrepreneurs and one-time owner of Sotheby's. Considering Taubman encountered some of the most noteworthy and beautiful works of art ever made through his auction house, the fact that he chose this portrait by Helleu to grace his collection is a testament to its import.

Born in Brittany in 1859, Helleu moved to Paris in 1876 in order to study at the École des Beaux-Arts. Like so many other artists of his generation, he was trained there under the Academic master Jean-Léon Gérôme. That same year, he also attended the Second Impressionist Exhibition, where he met John Singer Sargent, James McNeill Whistler and Claude Monet, each of whom would have a significant influence on his art. Sargent in particular remained a lifelong friend, and Helleu and his family appear in many of Sargent's portraits in the decades to follow.

Helleu quickly became a portraitist of renown, capturing many of the great socialites of the age. Later in his career, he also explored the art of the landscape, finding inspiration in the parks of Versailles and the port of Deauville. In 1904, he was awarded the Légion d'honneur and was made an honorary member of important beaux-arts societies. Today, his works can be found in the collections of the National Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) and the Brooklyn Museum, among others.

The impact of Helleu's body of work continues to have a profound influence on the realm of high fashion, as demonstrated in the 2022 exhibition Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams held at the Brooklyn Museum. This showcase drew connections between Dior's exquisite dresses and his favorite artist and design inspiration: Helleu. This present work will also be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the artist currently being prepared by the Association des amis de Paul César Helleu as no. PA-1495.