Hélène Delmaire on Painting for 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire'

French painter Hélène Delmaire, discovered by director Céline Sciamma on Instagram, created the paintings for the 2019 film 'Portrait de la jeune fille en feu' (Portrait of a Lady on Fire), which won Best Screenplay at Cannes 2019 and the Queer Palm. Delmaire produced multiple versions of the two green-dress portraits, charcoal sketches, a miniature, and the title painting seen in the first scene, which she considers the most emotional. She also painted the abortion scene, the last painting done on set, emphasizing its relevance today when women's rights are threatened. Delmaire discusses her artistic focus on empathy, vulnerability, and eco-feminist themes, and her preference for colors like turquoise and the blue of melancholy. The film, set in the late 18th century, explores the gaze, art, and love, with Delmaire's paintings central to the narrative. Released in Italy by Lucky Red.