Portrait of a French Actress
1746
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1746
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows a woman dressed in a dark, low-cut gown with lace trim. She wears a black collar and matching gloves, holding a fan in one hand. Her hair is pulled back under a black hat with pink feathers, and she sits against a dark, swirling background. The way the light hits her face and hands makes them stand out sharply. This style was common in portraits from that time. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how artists used light and shadow like this.
