The Artist's Wife with a Book

Georg Friedrich Schmidt

National Gallery of Art

The image shows the upper half of a woman's body seated in a chair. She is facing slightly toward her left, with her right hand raised, index finger pointing upward, and her left hand resting on the pages of an open book in front of her. Her facial features include a round face, gentle eyes, and a subtle smile. She has light hair neatly pulled back under a lace cap adorned with small flowers. She is dressed in a light-colored blouse with voluminous sleeves and a black lace scarf tied with a yellow bow around her neck. The woman wears drop earrings, but no other jewelry is visible. The background is a simple, neutral color that puts focus on her and the book.