Artifact World Gallery
Get the iOS app

Young Woman in Kimono by Maurer, Alfred H.

Maurer, Alfred H. · c. 1901

Alfred H. Maurer's "Young Woman in Kimono," painted around 1901, captures a solitary female figure in a moment of quiet introspection. The artist's loose brushwork gives the scene a sense of immediacy, drawing the viewer into her private world. It is held in a public collection.

Notice the vibrant red sash and slippers, which offer a striking contrast to the muted tones of her kimono. Her downward gaze and the delicate way she holds her fan suggest a mood of quiet contemplation, making her inner world the painting's focal point.

This early work reflects Maurer’s initial foray into modernist styles, predating his later shift to abstraction. The choice of subject, influenced by Western artists' fascination with Eastern aesthetics, showcases his unique painterly approach at the turn of the twentieth century.

What do you imagine she is thinking in this intimate space?

Details

She wears a loose kimono, its lines painted with immediacy.
She wears a loose kimono, its lines painted with immediacy.
Her red sash and slippers add a flash of vibrant color.
Her red sash and slippers add a flash of vibrant color.
The chair she leans on provides a grounding element and suggests a moment of rest within the domestic setting.
The chair she leans on provides a grounding element and suggests a moment of rest within the domestic setting.
Transcript

This woman lives in a moment of quiet contemplation. She wears a loose kimono, its lines painted with immediacy. Her red sash and slippers add a flash of vibrant color. The artist used subtle light to model her face and hands. Her downward gaze creates an air of introspection and mystery. This work reflects an early exploration of modernist tendencies. It hints at the painter's later shift toward abstraction.