“Lady Naomi Mitchison (1897–1999), Author,” an expressionist portrait created by Wyndham Lewis in 1938, depicts the renowned author engrossed in writing. The artwork, a poignant piece from the Expressionism movement, captures the intensity and depth of the subject’s emotions through bold and dynamic brush strokes.
In the artwork, Lady Naomi Mitchison is rendered with a focused, pensive expression as she writes in an open book, her head supported by her left hand. The depiction conveys a sense of intellectual dedication and contemplation. She is dressed in a blue outfit, seated on a wooden chair, and her surroundings include a table adorned with papers and an evocative crucifix in the background, hinting at an atmosphere rich with contemplative and possibly religious undertones. The deliberate choice of colors and the positioning of elements within the composition intensify the portrayal of an individual deeply immersed in her literary world.