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Woman Painter at Easel

Vivant Denon

1786

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque 18th Century

Dominant colour

Woman Painter at Easel is a 1786 ink by Vivant Denon, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Vivant Denon
When & what style?: 1786 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white print shows two people in a dimly lit room. One is seated, working at a tall easel with brushes in hand. The other stands nearby, watching or helping, wearing a hat. Light streams in through a window, casting sharp shadows and highlighting the textures of their clothes and the easel’s frame. The artist used fine lines to show detail, especially in the folds of clothing and the play of light. This style fits the Baroque period, known for dramatic contrasts and movement. Next, check out etching to see how artists create prints like this.