Woman in a Black Dress
1873
oil
From the collection of National Gallery of Ireland
1873
oil
From the collection of National Gallery of Ireland
This painting shows a woman in a black dress, standing in a room. She's holding a book in her hands, and her gaze is directed downward. The woman's dress is intricately detailed, with lace and embroidery visible on the bodice and hem. The room behind her is dimly lit, with a blue tablecloth covering a table to her right. A vase of flowers sits on the table, and a painting hangs on the wall above it. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of quiet contemplation, with the woman lost in thought as she reads her book. For more information on the artist's use of chiaroscuro, look up Alfred Stevens.
