Queen Marie Thérèse of France

About this work

This black-and-white photo shows a woman dressed in fancy 17th-century clothes. She wears a high-necked lace collar, a bejeweled bodice, and a long, patterned skirt. Her hair is pulled back neatly, and she holds a small object in one hand while resting the other on a cushion. The background looks like a dark, swirling curtain with a faint landscape outside a window. The photo’s lighting is dramatic, with strong shadows on her face and clothes. This kind of lighting was often used to make portraits look more powerful. If you like this style, check out *chiaroscuro* for more details.