Who painted Bust of a Woman, Seen from Behind?

Bust of a Woman, Seen from Behind was painted by Adolph Menzel in 1893.

Where can I see Bust of a Woman, Seen from Behind?

Bust of a Woman, Seen from Behind is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Bust of a Woman, Seen from Behind?

Bust of a Woman, Seen from Behind is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Bust of a Woman, Seen from Behind

Adolph Menzel , 1893

Bust of a Woman, Seen from Behind is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Adolph Menzel. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1994.103
Credit line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund

About this work

Overview

This drawing, Bust of a Woman, Seen from Behind, is a late work by Adolph Menzel, created using a carpenter's pencil and stumping technique. It depicts a woman's head and shoulders from behind, capturing a fleeting moment.

Technique & Style

Menzel employed a carpenter's pencil, utilizing both its broad and sharp points to achieve varying effects. Stumping softened the lines, creating a sense of warmth and depth, particularly in the rendering of light on the subject's face and hat.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing focuses on the back of a woman's head, her loosely pinned hair, and the curve of her ear caught in light. The immediacy of the image, with the subject's mouth slightly open, suggests a captured moment, reflecting Menzel's interest in conveying a sense of naturalness.