Edwin Lord Weeks (American, 1849-1903)

This small sketch showcases perfectly Weeks’ talent as a painter. Painted with broad, loose brushstrokes, the woman’s veiled figure emerges from an ochre background. Her features, depicted in block colours, are partly obscured by the translucent white veil, behind which her jaw and neck line are softly insinuated. This simple image transmits a sense of immediacy and gives insight into the artist’s working practices, whom one can imagine quickly sketching a passing beauty on the crowded streets of India.
The authenticity of this painting has previously been confirmed by Dr. Ellen K. Morris and it will be included in her forthcoming Edwin Lord Weeks catalogue raisonné.