Who painted Allegorical Female Figure?

Allegorical Female Figure was painted by John La Farge in 1884.

Where can I see Allegorical Female Figure?

Allegorical Female Figure is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Allegorical Female Figure?

Allegorical Female Figure is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Allegorical Female Figure?

Museum-quality prints of Allegorical Female Figure are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Allegorical Female Figure

John La Farge , 1884

Allegorical Female Figure is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist John La Farge. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Markings: Marked:lower right, circular stamp in red ink with Japanese characters [the artist's personal seal]

About this work

Overview

John La Farge’s drawing titled Allegorical Female Figure dates to around 1884. Executed in graphite on wove paper, the work presents a singular, stylized woman intended to convey an abstract concept rather than a specific narrative. Its modest size and monochrome palette reflect La Farge’s interest in drawing as a medium for exploring symbolic content.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a solitary female form whose posture and attributes suggest an allegorical purpose, inviting viewers to interpret qualities such as virtue, wisdom, or artistic inspiration. La Farge does not attach a concrete story, allowing the figure to function as a visual embodiment of an idealized principle.

Technique & Style

Rendered with graphite, the drawing relies on delicate shading and line work to model the figure’s volume on smooth wove paper. La Farge’s handling of tone creates subtle transitions between light and shadow, emphasizing the figure’s contours while maintaining a restrained, almost meditative atmosphere typical of late‑19th‑century academic drawing.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1884, the piece belongs to the period when La Farge was expanding his practice beyond stained‑glass and mural commissions into intimate works on paper. Its subsequent ownership record is limited, but the drawing has been retained within collections that focus on American artists of the Gilded Age, reflecting its relevance to La Farge’s broader oeuvre.

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Artist & collection

Artist

John La Farge

John La Farge (March 31, 1835 – November 14, 1910) was an American artist whose career spanned illustration, murals, interior design, painting, and popular books on his Asian travels and other art-related topics.