Artwork
A Lady Reading
A Lady Reading is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1922 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
A Lady Reading, produced in 1922 by the photographer known as 173_person, is part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography. The monochrome image captures a solitary figure seated in a chair, head supported by one arm, suggesting a moment of quiet contemplation. The composition is set against a dimly lit interior, with the surrounding space rendered indistinct by shallow depth of field.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a woman dressed in a dark coat marked by a light stripe along the sleeve, and a low‑set hat that partially obscures her hair. Her forward‑leaning posture and the way she rests her head convey a sense of fatigue or introspection, inviting viewers to consider the personal narrative behind the act of reading.
Technique & Style
The photograph exhibits the grainy texture typical of early twentieth‑century film, lending it an aged atmosphere. A shallow focus isolates the subject from the blurred background, emphasizing her expression and attire. The use of chiaroscuro lighting creates subtle contrasts, while the composition’s simple framing underscores the intimate, private moment captured.
History & Provenance
Created in the post‑World War I era, the work entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains accessible for study. Its attribution to the pseudonymous 173_person situates it within a broader body of work produced by the same creator, whose oeuvre often explores solitary figures in domestic settings.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
