1923
oil
canvas
From the collection of Fitzwilliam Museum
Dominant colour
The Convalescent is a 1923 oil by Gwen John, a British Romanticism work, depicting Reading, held at Fitzwilliam Museum.
This painting shows a woman sitting in a wicker chair, reading a book. She has long dark hair and is wearing a blue dress. The chair is positioned in front of a white wall with yellow spots. The woman's face is blurred, and her eyes are cast downward as she reads. The woman's posture suggests she is resting or recovering, which is reinforced by the title "The Convalescent". The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of quiet contemplation. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts of light and dark to create a sense of volume in modeling three-dimensional objects and figures, look up Gwen John.
Gwendolen "Gwen" Mary John (22 June 1876 – 18 September 1939) was a Welsh artist who worked in France for most of her career.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
