Artwork

Femeie privind un tablou pe șevalet/verso: Femeie cu mască, în costum național, studiu în ulei

Femeie privind un tablou pe șevalet/verso: Femeie cu mască, în costum național, studiu în ulei is an unspecified painting by Theodor Aman. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the Bucharest Municipality Museum.

About this work

Overview

The work, executed around 1884 by Romanian painter Theodor Aman, depicts an interior scene in which two women are positioned before a canvas on an easel. The composition is rendered in oil on canvas and is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography.

Subject & Meaning

In the dimly lit room, a woman in a dark dress with a red shawl leans on a chair, her chin resting on her hand, while a second figure, dressed in a bright, patterned national costume and wearing a black mask, holds an object to her face. The juxtaposition of the masked figure with the unmasked viewer suggests a contemplation of identity and performance.

Technique & Style

Aman employs a pronounced impasto technique, allowing the brushstrokes to remain visible and giving the surface a tactile quality. The soft illumination highlights the faces of the women, while the surrounding space recedes into shadow, creating a contrast between texture and atmospheric depth.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid-1880s, the painting entered the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains displayed. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s interest in works that document traditional dress and cultural practices within a fine‑art context.