Artwork
Young Girl Meditating
Young Girl Meditating is a watercolor work on paper by the American Impressionist artist Thomas Eakins. It dates from 1877 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a young girl seated in contemplation beside a simple table, embodying quiet introspection. Through the meditative pose and minimal furnishings, Eakins conveys a sense of inner focus and serene concentration, inviting viewers to consider the stillness of thought.
Technique & Style
The Young Girl Meditating is executed in watercolor and gouache on off-white wove paper, a support typical of Eakins' early portrait studies.
The Young Girl Meditating is executed in watercolor and gouache on off-white wove paper, a support typical of Eakins' early portrait studies. The work measures 24.3 centimeters in height by 15.6 centimeters in width, reflecting the modest scale of the piece. Its surface handling reveals careful application of pigment to achieve translucent layers, while the formal composition emphasizes a quiet, introspective gaze through balanced tonal modulation and restrained line work. These stylistic choices align with the portrait genre and contribute to the depiction of contemplation.
History & Provenance
Thomas Eakins created Young Girl Meditating in 1877, working in watercolor and gouache on off-white wove paper. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it resides in The American Wing. No further details of its commission, prior ownership, or acquisition history are recorded in the available sources.
Overview
Created in 1877, Young Girl Meditating is a modestly sized work executed in watercolor and gouache on off‑white wove paper. The piece belongs to the American Wing collection and exemplifies Thomas Eakins’s interest in intimate, observational portraiture during his early Philadelphia period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Cowperthwait Eakins (; July 25, 1844 – June 25, 1916) was an American realist painter, photographer, sculptor, and fine arts educator.
