The artwork titled “Portrait of Mary Adeline Williams” was created by Thomas Eakins in the year 1899. This piece, rendered in oil on canvas, belongs to the Realism movement and falls under the portrait genre.
The artwork depicts a woman, Mary Adeline Williams, shown in a three-quarter view against a dark, seemingly nondescript background that highlights her presence. Mary is portrayed with a somber and contemplative expression, with subtle yet thoughtful details in her face that capture her character and depth. She dons a dark formal dress with a high white collar, which contrasts with the somber tones of the attire, accentuating her face and neck. The naturalistic rendering of her features and the play of light and shadow reflect Thomas Eakins’ mastery in achieving a lifelike and introspective portrait, true to the principles of the Realism art movement.
