The artwork titled “Portrait of Erla Howell (Little Miss H.)” was created by William Merritt Chase in 1886. Rendered using oil on canvas, this portrait exemplifies the Impressionism movement. Measuring 165.58 x 99.54 cm, the piece is recognized as a significant work within the portrait genre and is currently held in a private collection.
In the artwork, a young girl stands poised, her demeanor both innocent and dignified. She is adorned in a floral-patterned yellow dress with a red shawl draped over her shoulders. Her voluminous dark hair cascades around her, framing a composed and expressive face. The girl rests one hand on a piece of furniture, perhaps a chair, which provides a semblance of depth to the background setting. The colors used are rich and vibrant, characteristic of the Impressionist style, with meticulous attention to the interplay of light and texture. The overall composition conveys a blend of simplicity and elegance, capturing a moment of contemplative stillness in the young subject’s life.
