James McNeill Whistler’s “Arrangement in Black, No. 2: Portrait of Mrs. Louis Huth,” painted between 1872 and 1873, is an oil on canvas portrait measuring 190.5 x 99 cm. This artwork is a compelling illustration of the artistic intersection between Impressionism and Realism.
The artwork portrays Mrs. Louis Huth, elegantly standing in a predominantly black dress adorned with white lace at the collar and cuffs. She is depicted in profile, exuding an air of refined poise and dignified grace. The background is a somber, unembellished dark tone, which serves to accentuate the figure’s presence and the textures of her attire. The composition’s subtle interplay of light and shadow, along with the meticulous attention to detail in the fabric and posture, underscores Whistler’s mastery in capturing both the physical likeness and the psychological essence of his subject.
