Artwork

Woman with Parasol

Woman with Parasol, by Perry, Enoch Wood, Jr., gouache, 1870
Woman with Parasol, by Perry, Enoch Wood, Jr., gouache, 1870

Woman with Parasol is a gouache drawing by the Impressionist artist Perry, Enoch Wood, Jr.. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Woman with Parasol is a work on paper by American artist Enoch Wood Perry, Jr., dating from around 1870. Executed with a combination of graphite, charcoal, blue colored pencil and gouache, the piece measures the delicate interplay of line and wash on a gray wove substrate.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a solitary female figure holding a parasol, an image that reflects the 19th‑century fascination with leisurely outdoor scenes and the modest elegance of everyday life. The parasol serves both as a practical object and a visual device that frames the figure within a softly lit atmosphere.

Technique & Style

Perry employs a mixed‑media approach, beginning with graphite and charcoal to establish form, then adding touches of blue colored pencil for subtle hue, and finally applying gouache to enrich tonal depth. The gray wove paper provides a muted ground that enhances the contrast between the delicate washes and the darker drawing marks.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1870, the drawing belongs to the later period of Perry’s career, when he was active in portraiture and genre scenes. Its provenance traces back to private collections before entering a museum context, though specific ownership details remain limited in the public record.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.