Artwork
Lady of 1860 - The Actress
Lady of 1860 - The Actress is a graphite drawing by George Bellows. It dates from 1922 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
George Bellows’ drawing titled “Lady of 1860 – The Actress” was executed in 1922. Rendered with graphite and charcoal on wove paper, the work measures a modest size and functions as a preparatory study rather than a finished portrait. Its loose handling and emphasis on tonal contrast reveal Bellows’ interest in capturing a fleeting impression of his subject.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is a woman dressed in a period costume reminiscent of the mid‑nineteenth century. She wears a high‑necked dress with lace trim at the collar and cuffs, and a full, layered skirt that falls in soft folds. Holding a small object in her left hand, she turns sideways, suggesting a moment of poised performance, perhaps alluding to an actress in character.
Technique & Style
The drawing relies on swift, gestural strokes that outline the dress’s structure, while broader charcoal applications suggest light falling across fabric folds.
Bellows employs a combination of graphite line work and charcoal shading, allowing for both crisp contours and atmospheric smudges. The drawing relies on swift, gestural strokes that outline the dress’s structure, while broader charcoal applications suggest light falling across fabric folds. This economical use of media creates a sense of volume without detailed rendering, characteristic of quick observational studies.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 1920s, the piece reflects Bellows’ ongoing exploration of figure drawing beyond his well‑known urban scenes. Though the drawing has remained in private collections for much of its existence, it has been exhibited intermittently in retrospectives of Bellows’ oeuvre, offering insight into his preparatory methods and his engagement with historical costume subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Wesley Bellows (August 12 or August 19, 1882 – January 8, 1925) was an American realist painter, known for his bold depictions of urban life in New York City.
