Artwork
Portrait of Lorna, the girl in pink
Portrait of Lorna, the girl in pink is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Annie Elizabeth Kelly. It dates from 1938 and is held in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1938, *Portrait of Lorna, the girl in pink* is an oil painting by New Zealand artist Annie Elizabeth Kelly. The work portrays a young woman seated before a window, her gaze directed toward a bouquet she holds. It is part of the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, identified as Lorna, is shown in a soft pink dress, her hair gathered in a low bun and a simple bracelet on her right wrist. The composition captures a quiet, introspective moment as she examines the flowers, suggesting themes of femininity, contemplation, and the fleeting nature of beauty.
Technique & Style
Kelly employs a restrained palette of pastel tones, allowing the pink of the dress and the muted whites of the curtain to dominate. Through delicate modulation of light and shadow, the artist creates a subtle sense of depth, while the brushwork reflects the gentle, atmospheric qualities associated with American Impressionism.
History & Provenance
Annie Elizabeth Kelly, noted for her portraiture, was the first New Zealand woman awarded a CBE for contributions to art. After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of Te Papa Tongarewa, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s representation of early‑mid‑20th‑century New Zealand painting.
Context
The work aligns with the broader trend of American Impressionism that reached New Zealand in the interwar period, emphasizing light, color, and everyday subjects. Kelly’s choice of a domestic interior and a solitary figure reflects contemporary interests in personal identity and the private sphere within a modernizing society.
Artist & collection
Artist
Annie Elizabeth Kelly (née Abbott; 12 April 1877 – 4 October 1946) was a New Zealand artist best known for her portrait paintings. She was the first New Zealand woman to receive the CBE for services to art.
Museum
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Continue through works from the same source collection.
