Artwork
Head of a Young Woman
Head of a Young Woman is a charcoal drawing by the Impressionist artist Eastman Johnson. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right in charcoal: E.J; unknown hand lower left in graphite: A583; Profile of Lady; lower right in graphite: (5) TR
About this work
Overview
Head of a Young Woman is a charcoal drawing heightened with white chalk on brown wove paper, created by Eastman Johnson around 1874.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing portrays the profile of a young woman looking to the right, with her dark hair pulled back and a white collar visible. Her serene expression conveys a sense of quiet contemplation.
Technique & Style
Johnson employed charcoal and white chalk to achieve depth and texture. The subtle definition of the subject's features and the delicate profile rendering show affinities with Impressionist techniques, such as suggestive rather than highly detailed work.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1874, the drawing's provenance history is not detailed here, focusing instead on its creation context within Johnson's oeuvre.
Context
While Johnson's style in this work aligns with some Impressionist tendencies, his broader body of work is more closely associated with American Realism. The piece reflects a moment of convergence between these artistic movements.
Legacy
Head of a Young Woman contributes to the understanding of Eastman Johnson's exploration of portrait drawing techniques and his engagement with contemporary European art movements during the late 19th century.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jonathan Eastman Johnson (July 29, 1824 – April 5, 1906) was an American painter and co-founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, with his name inscribed at its entrance.
