Artwork
Seated Lady Smoking a Hookah
Seated Lady Smoking a Hookah is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting portrays a woman seated on the floor, engaged in smoking a hookah.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work's primary iconography centers on the woman and the water pipe, which serve as the sole identified subjects within the composition.
Created in 1790 by an unidentified artist, this painting portrays a solitary female figure engaged in the act of smoking a hookah. The work's primary iconography centers on the woman and the water pipe, which serve as the sole identified subjects within the composition. While the visual elements clearly establish a scene of leisure or contemplation, the available records do not provide specific details regarding deeper symbolic interpretations or cultural allegories. The image functions primarily as a straightforward representation of its titled activity and subject matter.
History & Provenance
The painting Seated Lady Smoking a Hookah is dated to 1790 and attributed to an unknown artist. It is classified as a painting and depicts a woman smoking a hookah. The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, which currently holds it under accession number 2018.106.
No documentation of a commission, an explicit ownership chain prior to museum acquisition, or any exhibition history is provided in the available sources.
Overview
This painting portrays a woman seated on the floor, engaged in smoking a hookah. Her relaxed posture and serene expression are central to the composition. Dressed in vibrant purple and yellow attire and adorned with jewelry, she is positioned on a patterned rug.
The scene is framed by a low wall and features a small table holding the hookah to her side, creating an intimate domestic setting.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a palette of warm colors, particularly in the background, to establish a cozy and inviting atmosphere. This color scheme effectively draws the viewer's eye towards the central figure, highlighting her presence. The detailed depiction of her attire, the patterned rug, and the surrounding elements contributes to the painting's descriptive quality, while the overall composition emphasizes a sense of quietude and domesticity.
Artist & collection
