The artwork titled “Celestina” was crafted in 1908 by artist Robert Henri and belongs to the American Realism movement. This piece is classified under the portrait genre.
In the artwork, an elderly woman is depicted against a dark, nearly black background that accentuates her presence. The subject’s face is rendered with a high degree of realism, capturing the textures and contours of her aged skin and the character in her expression. She dons a white headscarf and an olive drapery around her shoulders, which contrasts vividly with the dark backdrop. The clothing is painted with thick, expressive brushstrokes, exhibiting Henri’s adept command of the medium. The woman’s eyes and faint smile exude a quiet dignity and depth of emotion, making her the focal point of this poignant portrait.