1884
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Magdalene is a 1884 gouache by Elihu Vedder, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a woman curled up in a dark, shadowy space. Her head rests on her hand, and her body is wrapped in a loose cloth. The background is fuzzy, with hints of a landscape outside—maybe trees or water—but it’s hard to tell. The colors are mostly muted browns and grays, with a few gold touches in her hair and the edges. The painting looks rough and unfinished, like it was quickly done. The artist used soft, smudgy lines instead of sharp details, giving it a dreamy, almost ghostly feel. If you like this style, check out gouache to see how artists use that technique.
Elihu Vedder (26 February 1836 – 29 January 1923) was an American symbolist painter, book illustrator and poet from New York City.
See the richer artist page
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