Study of a Girl's Head and Shoulders

1896–97

In addition to large-scale portraits, James McNeill Whistler created small-scale likenesses, often on wood panel, as in this painting of a young sitter. A well-known beauty, Olga Caracciolo lived in Dieppe, France, likely where this work was executed, and later married the photographer Adolf de Meyer. Rather than a swift, abbreviated study for a larger composition, Whistler considered a work such as this to be a satisfying aesthetic whole.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903)

Date

1896–97

Medium

Oil on panel

Dimensions

15.5 × 9.5 cm (6 1/8 × 3 3/4 in.)

Origin

United States

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Walter S. Brewster Collection