Who painted Woman with Outstretched Arms?

Woman with Outstretched Arms was painted by Thomas Hovenden in 1884.

Where can I see Woman with Outstretched Arms?

Woman with Outstretched Arms is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Woman with Outstretched Arms?

Woman with Outstretched Arms is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Woman with Outstretched Arms

Thomas Hovenden , 1884

Woman with Outstretched Arms is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist Thomas Hovenden. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Thomas Hovenden’s drawing titled Woman with Outstretched Arms dates to around 1884. Executed in graphite, the work comprises two sheets of wove paper that have been joined to form a single surface, presenting a figure with arms extended outward.

Technique & Style

The artist employed graphite to render the composition, using the medium’s capacity for fine line and subtle shading. The joined sheets of wove paper provide a larger field for the drawing, allowing Hovenden to develop the figure’s posture and gesture with a measured, observational approach characteristic of late‑19th‑century draftsmanship.

Context

Created in the mid‑1880s, the drawing reflects Hovenden’s interest in realistic representation of the human form. While specific details about its commission or exhibition history are not recorded, the work aligns with the period’s emphasis on drawing as a fundamental practice for artists working in both academic and American realist traditions.