Artwork
Seated Woman
Seated Woman is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Jean Antoine Watteau. It dates from 1716 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
The drawing titled Seated Woman, created by Jean-Antoine Watteau in 1716, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Created in 1716, this work is a drawing by the French artist Jean-Antoine Watteau depicting a seated woman. The piece entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the bequest of Robert Lehman. It is currently held within the museum's holdings under the accession number 1975.1.763.
While some records specify the inception date as January 1, 1716, the year 1716 serves as the canonical date of creation for the artwork.
The drawing titled Seated Woman, created by Jean-Antoine Watteau in 1716, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work entered the museum's holdings under the accession number 1975.1.763. It was previously owned by Robert Lehman before its acquisition by the institution. The piece depicts a woman and is classified as a drawing from the early 18th century.
Context
The painting, titled Seated Woman and created by Jean-Antoine Watteau in 1716, exemplifies his mastery of the fêtes galantes genre, blending intimate portraiture with idyllic pastoral narratives. Its depiction of a solitary figure reflects the Rococo fascination with leisurely contemplation and nuanced emotional expression. Scholarship often situates this work within Watteau's broader exploration of aristocratic leisure, highlighting its influence on later interpretations of gendered spaces in 18th-century European art.
The piece is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, having been acquired through the Robert Lehman donation.
Overview
Created in 1716, Seated Woman is an early eighteenth‑century work by French painter Jean‑Antoine Watteau. The piece portrays a solitary female figure rendered in a loose, sketch‑like manner and is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a woman seated with her torso turned toward the viewer. She wears a flowing dress with a high neckline and puffed sleeves, her hair gathered back. In her right hand she holds a small object, interpreted as a fan or a letter, suggesting a moment of private contemplation.
Technique & Style
Executed with rapid, gestural lines, the drawing conveys a sense of immediacy. Soft shadows merge into the pale skin tones, while the palette is restrained to muted pinks, browns, and grays. The paper’s worn edges and unfinished appearance indicate a study rather than a finished painting, reflecting Watteau’s practice of quick observational sketches.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Antoine Watteau was a French painter and draughtsman whose brief career spurred the revival of interest in colour and movement, as seen in the tradition of Correggio and Rubens.
Study of a seated woman (The Virgin)![Young Woman Kneeling and Reaching Forward [verso], by Charles de La Fosse](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/charles-de-la-fosse--young-woman-kneeling-and-reaching-forward-verso--dad9d34b84dadb6d-w320.webp)
Young Woman Kneeling and Reaching Forward [verso]
Classical Sculpture of a Pensive Woman
Two Seated Ladies
A Young Woman Looking in a Mirror
Study for an Allegory of Painting
Head of a Woman Looking Back Over Her Shoulder![Seated Guitarist [recto], by Jean Antoine Watteau](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/jean-antoine-watteau--seated-guitarist-recto--1923603ffd027bd7-w320.webp)
Seated Guitarist [recto]
Standing Woman
Woman Walking to the Right