The artwork titled “Old Woman with a Rosary” was created by Paul Cezanne in the year 1896. This oil on canvas painting is a representation of the Post-Impressionism movement and depicts a portrait genre. The dimensions of the artwork are 80.6 x 65.5 cm. It is housed in the National Gallery located in London, United Kingdom.
The artwork portrays an elderly woman engaged in an act of devotion or prayer, marked by the rosary that she clasps in her hands. Cezanne’s application of paint is characteristic of Post-Impressionist techniques, where brushstrokes are distinguishable and create a sense of structure within the composition. The woman dons a headscarf and a dark garment, which is rendered with a subdued palette that suggests modesty and introspection. Her gaze is directed downwards, accentuating a sense of solemnity and perhaps inner contemplation.
The background is minimally detailed, allowing the viewer to focus on the woman’s expression and the tactile quality of her clothing and the rosary beads. Her hands are worn, revealing the physical signs of aging and possibly a lifetime of labor, yet they cradle the rosary with a care that denotes reverence and the importance of her faith in her life. Cezanne has captured not just the physical likeness of the subject, but also a penetrating insight into her character and emotional state.
