Fernand KHNOPFF (1858-1921) Diffidence - La défiance, Lilie, 1893 Pencil and pastel on plate-engraving mounted on paper by the artist Dedicated and signed in pencil lower left on the mount: "au docteur H. Coppez en souvenir - Fernand Khnopff". Monogrammed in blue pencil on the mount in the centre: "FK". 28.4 x 19.5 cm for the sheet 26 x 17 cm for the subject Provenance: Private collection, Belgium (passed on by descent) Bibliography: Robert L. Delevoy, Catherine de Croës, Gisèle Ollinger-Zinque, Fernand Khnopff Catalogue of the work, Lebeer-Hossmann, Brussels, 1987, n°226, p.281 (reproduced) This work is listed in the archives of Gisèle Ollinger under n° 221 Bis n° 8. Platinogravure is a photographic engraving process that Khnopff often used as a base medium, and which he used to enhance using different media such as pencil, coloured pencil or pastel. A similar enhanced plate engraving is held in the Cabinet des Estampes de la Bibliothèque Royale Albert Ier, Brussels (Inv.S.II 80174) and another in the Musée d'Ixelles (Inv.RW19). The highlights and colours used are different each time, making each piece singular and unique. This print was made from the drawing Diffidence (listed in the Delevoy catalogue raisonné as no. 221, p. 279), executed in 1893 and kept until 1929 in the Collection du Comte Théodule de Grammont-Croy in Paris. This portrait most probably depicts Marguerite Khnopff, the artist's sister and also his favourite model, whose silent gaze pierces the viewer and whose face seems to float in the composition next to a white fleur-de-lys, Khnopff's cherished symbol of virginity and purity.