The Winged Hat

James McNeill Whistler

National Gallery of Art

The image is a sketch of a seated woman from her head to her lower legs. She is sitting with her body slightly turned to the left, resting her right arm on her lap. Her left arm is not clearly outlined. Her facial features are softly rendered with closed eyes or a relaxed expression, and she wears a wide-brimmed hat with a feather decoration. She appears to have short, tucked hair beneath the hat. She is wearing a formal dress with a high collar and possibly details like ruffles. There is no visible jewelry or objects in her hands. The background of the sketch is plain, with no specific details or scenery drawn. The sketch is done in a minimalist style with light and dark shading to suggest form and depth.