Portrait of Empress Catharine II of Russia
1774
unspecified
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
1774
unspecified
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This black-and-white portrait shows a woman in fancy 18th-century clothes. She wears a dark coat with shiny buttons and a ruffled cuff, plus a patterned skirt. Her right hand points forward, and she has a serious expression with a high hairdo. The painting’s dramatic lighting makes her face stand out against a dark, textured background. This style was used to highlight her importance. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create depth in art.
