Young Woman Seated at a Piano [verso]

Jean-Louis Forain

1890

chalk

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century sitting

About this work

This painting shows a young woman sitting at a piano. She's drawn in black chalk on paper, which creates a simple yet detailed image. The artist used this medium to focus on the woman's pose and expression. The woman's face is turned away from the piano, as if she's lost in thought. This subtle detail suggests that the artist was interested in capturing a quiet moment. You can learn more about this style by looking into the technique of chiaroscuro.