Artwork
Seated African Woman
Seated African Woman is an oil painting by the Orientalist artist Henri Regnault. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Executed in 1860, Seated African Woman is an oil painting on canvas created by Henri Regnault in France.
Executed in 1860, Seated African Woman is an oil painting on canvas created by Henri Regnault in France. The work measures approximately 57.2 cm in height and 47.2 cm in width. As a classified painting within the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, the piece utilizes traditional oil paints applied to a fabric support, characteristic of mid-19th-century French academic production.
The specific handling of the medium and the formal stylistic qualities of the figure are defined by Regnault's early application of oil techniques during this period of his career.
History & Provenance
Henri Regnault painted Seated African Woman in 1860 in France, an oil on canvas work measuring 57.2 cm by 47.2 cm. The painting entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view.
The provenance chain is limited to its acquisition by the Cleveland Museum of Art, with no further documented ownership history recorded.
The painting is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is recorded with the accession number 1980.280. The work entered the museum’s collection in 1980. It has not been identified in any documented exhibition history within the provided sources.
Overview
Henri Regnault’s 1860 oil painting titled Seated African Woman is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work presents a solitary figure positioned on a modest cloth, illuminated against a subdued interior that includes a muted red drapery. The composition is concise, focusing attention on the sitter’s form and the surrounding atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas depicts a nude woman of African descent, her head wrapped in a bright orange cloth while her lower body remains uncovered. She sits with her legs drawn close, feet tucked beneath her, conveying a sense of introspection. The straightforward portrayal avoids romanticized tropes, offering a candid observation of the individual’s physical presence.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Born in Paris on October 31, 1843, Henri-Georges-Alexandre Regnault was the son of Henri Victor Regnault, the celebrated chemist and professor at the Collège de France.
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