Young Woman in White

Robert Henri

National Gallery of Art

A pale-skinned woman wearing a white gown and hat stands facing our left in profile against a dark background in this vertical painting. The portrait is loosely painted, especially in the clothing and background. The woman’s shoulders are wrapped in a white capelet and golden yellow fabric or lining along the opening. The loose sleeves are gathered near the elbows, and she wears a gold bracelet on the forearm we can see. The skirt falls in heavy folds and pools on the floor in eddying ruffles. Her hands are clasped at her waist, and she wears white gloves. Her black hair is piled atop her head, and locks drape over her shoulder. A wide-brimmed, straw-yellow hat edged with white lace is set at an angle on the far side of her head. She has a strong nose, a slight overbite, parted lips, and rosy cheeks. The background is dark charcoal gray with a band of earthy brown indicating the floor. The artist signed the lower left corner, “Robert Henri.”