“The Twig,” created in 1865 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, is an oil painting on canvas situated within the Romanticism movement. This portrait, measuring 39.4 by 47.6 centimeters, is part of the collection at the Fogg Museum (Harvard Art Museums) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
The artwork portrays a young woman against a subdued, dark background, accentuating a tranquil and contemplative atmosphere. The subject, with striking, flowing red hair, is adorned in a green garment detailed with intricate designs and a delicate golden brooch at her collar. One can notice a lace-like fabric resting on her shoulder, enhancing the delicate grace of the composition. Her hands are gracefully positioned, holding a twig, reinforcing the work’s title. The expressions and detailing in the woman’s features epitomize Rossetti’s mastery in capturing both aesthetic beauty and nuanced emotion within the Romanticism movement.
