What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

The woman depicted seems sad, and it seems as if it was painted to be a memorial for the dead, as it almost resembles an icon.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

We see a lot of dark colors and highlights in the skin to make the woman pop, yet also blend into a cool tone. There is a spiral pattern to depict her dark curls. There is a plethora of diagonal and vertical lines to make the painting appear sharp and defined.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

This art is placed in a 3D glass case so we can observe all angles of the curved wood. The color scheme of the painting matches the wall behind it to create a better blend of colors. Additionally, there are similar paintings around the area of other portraits to give the woman in the painting a sense of familiarity.

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