La Cigale

Emma Justine Farnsworth

National Gallery of Art

This photograph shows a woman from the waist up, seated or reclining, her body facing us. Her head is slightly tilted to the left, and she looks upward. The woman has pale skin, arched eyebrows, deep-set eyes, and a thin mouth set in a neutral expression. Her hair appears to be styled into small buns or braids, and it is adorned with a headpiece that features a large crescent moon or half-circle shape with its ends pointing upward. This large shape sits at the center of her forehead and appears to be covered with small gems, with a large gem in the center. Large white flowers are tucked in her hair around her ears. Her attire consists of an off-the-shoulder dress with puffed sleeves and a gathered bodice. Her arms are stretched out to either side, as if they rest on the arms of a chair or couch. The background features a pattern of peacock feathers, and there is a large round shape behind the woman's head, almost like a halo. The photograph is entirely tinted in a blue-gray color.