Artwork
Two Elegant Women in Polish Dress
Two Elegant Women in Polish Dress is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Nicolas Lancret. It dates from 1723 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1723 by French artist Nicolas Lancret, this drawing depicts a pair of women dressed in Polish-inspired costume. Executed with red, black, and white chalk on a light brown sheet, the work measures modestly and presents the figures side by side against an unadorned background, emphasizing their posture and the drapery of their garments.
Subject & Meaning
The two figures are shown in flowing, wavy dresses characteristic of early‑18th‑century Polish aristocratic fashion, a style that fascinated French high society at the time. One woman rests a hand on her chest while the other extends a finger outward, gestures that suggest a modest yet slightly theatrical interaction, reflecting contemporary interest in exotic attire and genteel comportment.
Technique & Style
Lancret employs swift, loose chalk lines to suggest movement and the play of light across fabric folds. The limited palette of red, black and white creates contrast against the warm tone of the paper, while the restrained shading conveys volume without heavy modeling, aligning with the light, decorative sensibility of his genre scenes.
History & Provenance
The drawing belongs to Lancret’s early career, a period when he was establishing his reputation for portraying the manners of the Regency and the early reign of Louis XV. It entered the museum’s collection through a 19th‑century acquisition of French drawings, though its exact previous owners remain undocumented.
Context
During the early 1700s, French aristocrats often adopted foreign dress as a fashionable statement, and Polish costume was especially popular for its perceived elegance. Lancret’s choice to render such attire in a study reflects both his interest in contemporary trends and his broader engagement with the light‑hearted genre scenes that defined his oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolas Lancret (French pronunciation: ; 22 January 1690 – 14 September 1743) was a French painter.
