Young Woman in Black

Edgar Degas

National Gallery of Art

The image shows an upper-body portrait of a woman seated in a three-quarter pose facing forward. Her head is slightly turned to the left, and her arms are crossed in front of her. She has fair skin, soft facial features, and blue eyes. Her dark brown hair is styled in a smooth fashion, parted in the middle and pinned back. She is wearing a black dress with a high collar, accented by a yellow bow tied at her neckline. The background is a blend of gray and beige with sketch-like brushstrokes.