Wilhelm Uhde, a renowned German art collector, retreats to Senlis, a quiet town near Paris, to focus on writing and escape the chaos of city life. He takes up residence in an apartment and becomes acquainted with the building's cleaning lady, a rough-around-the-edges 40-year-old woman who is often mocked by others. While exploring his new home, Wilhelm discovers a small painting in his landlady's living room, only to learn that the artist is none other than the enigmatic Séraphine.