The artwork titled “Study of a Standing Woman” is a creation of Edward Hopper dating back to the year 1900. Executed with pen and ink, this sketch exemplifies the New Realism art movement. The dimensions of the piece are 30.3 by 41.1 centimeters. The genre it belongs to is described as a sketch and study, revealing the artist’s process of examining the human form. Currently, this piece resides within a private collection, indicating that it is not on public display.
In the artwork, we observe a woman depicted in full-figure standing pose. She appears to be clothed in the fashion of the late 19th or early 20th century, judging by the style of her attire. The woman is wearing a dress with a distinct pattern, perhaps checks or plaid, which has been rendered with a flurry of ink strokes to convey texture and depth. Notably, the dress is cinched at the waist, featuring a tailored bodice and a flared skirt, typical of the period’s fashion sensibilities.
Her pose suggests a casual yet poised stance; she has one hand resting on her hip while the other hangs by her side. The artist has captured a sense of elegance and deliberation in her posture. An accessory of note is a hat adorned with what seems to be a bow or decorative element, giving a sense of the social norms and styles of the era represented. The woman’s gaze is directed away from the viewer, perhaps lost in thought or observing something outside the frame of the sketch.
The backdrop of the artwork is minimal, with only abstracted and hastily drawn lines to suggest an environment or architectural element. This ensures that the focus remains tightly on the figure of the woman, her attire, and her demeanour.
Hopper’s adept handling of pen and ink offers us a glimpse into his artistic process and the foundational studies that likely informed his later, more well-known works. Through his deft strokes, one can discern the careful attention paid to the fall of the fabric, the subtleties of light and shade, and the overall character of the figure.
