Artwork
Eye Miniature
Eye Miniature is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This singular focus on the ocular organ functions as a specific form of portraiture where the eye itself acts as the representation of the individual.
The artwork depicts a single human eye, serving as the sole visual subject. This singular focus on the ocular organ functions as a specific form of portraiture where the eye itself acts as the representation of the individual. The work relies on the iconography of the eye to convey presence and identity without the inclusion of a full face or body. As a distinct genre of painting, the subject matter is defined entirely by this isolated anatomical feature.
History & Provenance
The Eye Miniature was created in 1900 and is classified as a painting. It was produced by a British artist, as recorded in the artwork's entry and held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view. The piece was commissioned as part of a series of eye miniatures and has been part of the museum's collection since its acquisition, with its inception documented in 1900.
Its creation history is tied to early 20th-century portrait miniatures, reflecting contemporary interests in symbolic representation of vision and identity.
One specific instance of an eye miniature, dated to 1900, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work, classified as a painting depicting an eye, carries the accession number 54.128.2 within the museum's inventory. This object is attributed to a British painter and remains part of the institution's permanent holdings.
The provided records do not list a specific exhibition history for this particular miniature, noting only its current location and catalog identification within the museum's collection.
Overview
Eye Miniature is a small oval painting that concentrates on a single human eye. The composition excludes any background, presenting the eye as an isolated subject within a thick, textured border that resembles a decorative frame such as a locket or brooch. Despite its diminutive dimensions, the work displays a high level of detail, particularly in the rendering of the pupil, lashes, and subtle shading of the eyelid.
Technique & Style
The artist employs delicate line work to delineate the pupil and lashes, while the iris appears in a darker gray tone accented by a faint white highlight. The eyelid is rendered with soft, graduated shading that suggests a sfumato-like transition, creating a gentle, atmospheric effect. The surrounding border is rendered with a thick, textured application of paint, giving the impression of a metal or enamel setting.
Artist & collection
