Artwork
The Blue Shawl
The Blue Shawl is an oil painting. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
She wears a dark green dress with long sleeves and a light blue shawl draped over her shoulders, featuring a fringe along the edges.
This painting depicts a woman seated in a chair, turned slightly to her right. She wears a dark green dress with long sleeves and a light blue shawl draped over her shoulders, featuring a fringe along the edges. Her curly brown hair is styled in an updo, and she sports a reddish-brown hat. The background of the painting is a muted brown color.
The woman's attire and hairstyle suggest that the painting was created in the early 19th century. The use of oil on wood as the medium adds to the overall sense of age and tradition.
For more information on the Romanticism movement, which influenced this painting, explore the Romanticism movement.
Technique & Style
Created in 1820, The Blue Shawl is an oil painting executed on a wood support. The work measures 22.9 cm in height and 17.7 cm in width. Classified as a portrait, the piece originates from an American artist of the 19th century.
The medium and support indicate a traditional approach to portraiture common in the early 19th century United States.
History & Provenance
The Blue Shawl was created in 1820, as established by its inception date. The painting originated in New York, where it was later held by the Harry Shaw Newman Gallery. In 1948, the gallery sold the work to collectors Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch.
The couple subsequently donated it to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1953, where it remains part of the museum’s collection.
The Blue Shawl is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The work entered the museum's holdings in 1953 as a gift from Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch. Prior to this donation, the painting was sold in 1948 by the Harry Shaw Newman Gallery of New York to the Garbisches. While the artwork was recorded as originating from New York, specific exhibition records beyond its provenance trail are not detailed in the available sources.
Context
The Blue Shawl, painted in 1820 by an American 19th-century artist, depicts a portrait subject draped in a vivid blue garment. Its formal qualities and symbolic use of color have been examined in scholarship focusing on early American portraiture and domestic interior symbolism. The work entered the National Gallery of Art in 1953 after being sold by the Harry Shaw Newman Gallery in New York in 1948 to Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, who subsequently gifted it to the institution. The painting remains part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, D.C.
Overview
The work, titled The Blue Shawl, is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel. It portrays a seated woman turned slightly toward her right, set against a muted brown backdrop. Her attire, a dark green dress with long sleeves and a light blue shawl edged with fringe, along with her up‑do hairstyle and reddish‑brown hat, define the composition’s focal point.
Subject & Meaning
The figure’s relaxed pose and modest dress suggest a domestic or private setting typical of early‑19th‑century portraiture. The contrast between the deep green dress and the delicate blue shawl may highlight personal taste or status, while the subdued background keeps attention on the sitter’s presence.
Artist & collection
