Artwork
Portrait of a Woman
Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Charles Cottet. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work is a portrait depicting a woman, identified as the main subject of the composition. She is portrayed wearing a hat, which serves as a distinct visual element within the image. Created by Charles Cottet in 1900, the painting focuses on the representation of this female figure. As a portrait genre piece, the artwork's primary meaning lies in its direct depiction of the individual.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, measuring 57.8 cm in height by 48.3 cm in width. It portrays a woman wearing a hat, reflecting the formal approach typical of early‑20th‑century portraiture. The surface handling and condition are not detailed in the available records, and no specific stylistic analysis beyond the medium and subject matter is provided.
History & Provenance
The work has been exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, though specific exhibition dates or shows are not documented in the provided references.
The painting entered the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1955 as a bequest from the estate of Annie Swan Coburn, whose collection was dispersed after her death. The work is dated to 1900 by the institution and is catalogued as an oil on canvas measuring 57.8 cm by 48.3 cm. No record of an original commission or early provenance beyond the artist’s lifetime is provided in the source.
Portrait of a Woman is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Its accession number is not specified in the available sources. The work has been exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, though specific exhibition dates or shows are not documented in the provided references.
Overview
This 1900 oil painting by Charles Cottet, a French Post-Impressionist, presents a seated woman in quiet repose. Rendered with restrained tonalities, the work reflects Cottet’s association with the Bande noire, a circle of artists drawn to muted, introspective palettes. The canvas resides in the Art Institute of Chicago, where it represents the artist’s shift from Breton seascapes to intimate portraiture.
Context
Painted during a period when portraiture increasingly emphasized psychological nuance, Cottet’s work diverges from both academic polish and avant-garde experimentation. As a leader of the Bande noire, he favored tonal harmony over chromatic intensity, reflecting broader Symbolist currents that valued mood and suggestion. The portrait’s understated elegance aligns with this ethos, offering an alternative to the era’s more flamboyant depictions of femininity.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Cottet (French pronunciation:; 12 July 1863 – 20 September 1925) was a French painter, born at Le Puy-en-Velay and died in Paris.
