Claerchen 1893 Karl Theodore Bitter American, born Austria Bitter no doubt viewed this profile of Clare, his six-year-old niece, as a casual representation, as suggested by the sketchy, tactile handling of form. Striated tool marks add dynamism to Bitters characterization of his wide-eyed sitter. Once considered a means to a more polished end, the sketch aesthetic was popularized in the late-nineteenth century through low relief portraits by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and others. “Claerchen” is a diminutive form of the sitters name that recalls Bitters Austrian heritage.. Claerchen. Karl Theodore Bitter (American (born Austria), Vienna 1867-1915 New York). American. 1893. Bronze