A Lady Seated

James McNeill Whistler

National Gallery of Art

This is a sketch of a seated woman. She is shown from just above her knees upward, slightly turned to the side. Her left hand rests in her lap and her right arm is by her side. Her facial features are softly outlined, with a gentle expression. She wears a hat with a feather or decorative element. The woman is dressed in a long coat or dress with fur or ruffled edges. The sketch shows an interior setting, possibly on a sofa or chair with a textured back. The background has light pencil strokes hinting at a patterned wall or simple furnishings.