Artwork
Lady Seen from Behind
Lady Seen from Behind is a graphite drawing by the Baroque artist Pieter Jansz Quast. It dates from 1626 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:in later hand, upper right in brown ink: 31
About this work
Overview
Pieter Jansz Quast’s drawing titled Lady Seen from Behind dates to 1626. Executed in graphite on vellum, the work measures a modest size typical of preparatory sketches and presents a solitary female figure observed from the rear.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is shown from behind, wearing a long, flowing dress with pronounced, puffy sleeves. Her hair is gathered upward, leaving a few loose curls, and she holds a fan in one hand, suggesting a moment of private contemplation or a gesture of elegance.
Technique & Style
Quast employs swift, gestural lines that convey a sketchy immediacy. Soft graphite shading models the drapery’s folds and the contours of the body, a method common in early‑17th‑century drawings to suggest volume without fully rendering detail.
History & Provenance
Created in the Dutch Baroque period, the drawing reflects the era’s interest in studies of the human figure and costume. Its provenance traces back to private collections before entering a museum inventory in the late 20th century, where it remains catalogued as a representative example of Quast’s draftsmanship.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
