Mary Wood

About this work

This portrait shows a woman with soft, curly hair pulled back and a light, ruffled dress. Her face is pale with a faint pink blush on her cheeks, and she gazes slightly to the side. The background is plain and dark, keeping all focus on her. The artist used pastel—chalky sticks of color—to create the delicate, almost smudged look. This style was popular for quick, expressive portraits. Next, check out the technique: pastel to see how artists used it for soft, dreamy effects.