Catalogue Entry
Johnson’s wife, Elizabeth, no doubt turned his attention to representations of women alone—either in interiors or outside. Such women are often lost in thought and suggest sentient beings with an inner life. In my interviews with descendants of Johnson’s siblings, she is presented as an independent woman. Johnson painted her portrait in which she assumes the posture of a woman who thinks on her own (also see theme 31.3). —PH
Hills, 2021: At one point in the painting’s history the signature “Homer” had been painted in red paint at the lower right. The signature remained until 1970, but has since been removed. Because of the Winslow Homer inscription, this painting was for a number of decades attributed to Homer. It was published as such in Art News 34 (May 9, 1936) cover; Forbes Watson, Winslow Homer (New York: 1942), plate 52; and exhibited at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Winslow Homer, May 2–June 8, 1936, no. 11, as lent by Chester Dale.
2019-06-13: Note graphite line along profile of cheek.Shadowed upper face very convincing. Heavier outlining along edge of fist and letter. White strokes along shoulders represent bright sunlight on her clothing.
