Who painted Un Regard Fugitif?

Un Regard Fugitif was painted by Mary Sheppard Greene in 1900.

Where can I see Un Regard Fugitif?

Un Regard Fugitif is held by Brooklyn Museum.

What movement is Un Regard Fugitif?

Un Regard Fugitif is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Un Regard Fugitif

Mary Sheppard Greene , 1900

Un Regard Fugitif is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Mary Sheppard Greene. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.

About this work

Overview

Un Regard Fugitif is an oil painting completed in 1900 by American artist Mary Sheppard Greene. It is part of the permanent collection at the Brooklyn Museum. The work captures a quiet, introspective moment, rendered with careful attention to light and form. Its composition centers on a solitary figure engaged with her reflection, suggesting themes of self-perception and transience.

Subject & Meaning

The fleeting nature of the moment—suggested by the title, meaning 'a fleeting glance'—hints at impermanence and the elusive quality of self-identity.

The painting portrays a woman in a white, high-necked dress standing before an ornate mirror. She gazes at her own reflection, her expression serene yet distant. The act of looking inward, combined with the dim interior and single light source, evokes a sense of private contemplation. The fleeting nature of the moment—suggested by the title, meaning 'a fleeting glance'—hints at impermanence and the elusive quality of self-identity.

Technique & Style

Greene employs a realistic approach with refined detail in fabric, skin, and the gilded mirror frame. Chiaroscuro is used to model form and deepen spatial recession, with light falling from the left to cast soft shadows across the figure and surroundings. The texture of the dress, the reflective surface of the mirror, and the carved woodwork are rendered with precision, grounding the scene in tangible reality while enhancing its quiet mood.

History & Provenance

The painting was completed in 1900 and entered the Brooklyn Museum’s collection at an unknown date. Mary Sheppard Greene, active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was not widely exhibited during her lifetime, and few of her works remain publicly documented. Un Regard Fugitif stands as one of the few surviving examples of her oeuvre, offering insight into her technical skill and thematic interests.

Context

Created at the turn of the century, the work aligns with a broader trend in American art that favored intimate, psychologically nuanced scenes over grand narratives. While European Symbolists explored similar themes of introspection, Greene’s approach remains grounded in realism, reflecting the influence of academic training and the quiet domesticity often depicted by women artists of her era.

Legacy

Though Greene’s career was modestly documented, Un Regard Fugitif endures as a quietly compelling example of early 20th-century American figurative painting. Its preservation in a major museum ensures continued access for study and reflection. The work contributes to a growing recognition of women artists who explored inner life through restrained, technically accomplished imagery.