Object Details
- Artist
- William Bache, 22 Dec 1771 - 9 Jul 1845
- Sitter
- Unidentified Woman
- Exhibition Label
- Taken with a physiognotrace, this portrait was intended to record the sitter’s facial features, which in turn could be used to “read” her character. Although such interpretations are now considered inaccurate, a profile portrait can tell us other things. This subject’s headdress appears to be African in origin. As her portrait was found in an album of silhouettes that artist William Bache primarily produced in New Orleans, we can speculate that it was taken there. Bache’s album begins with silhouettes of George and Martha Washington.
- At a time when only powerful Anglo-Europeans were memorialized in oil paintings, this silhouette marked a remarkable moment for a woman of such working-class status. Thus, even though the identity of this woman is unknown, this tiny silhouette heralds a sea change. Americans from all walks of life could have their portraits made, just like the president of the United States.
- Este retrato tomado con el fisionotrazo estaba destinado a captar las facciones de la modelo de tal manera que en ellas puede “leerse” su carácter. Aunque en la actualidad tales interpretaciones se consideran erróneas, un perfil puede decirnos otras cosas. El tocado de la modelo parece ser de origen africano. Dado que su retrato se encontró en un álbum de siluetas que produjo el artista William Bache mayormente en Nueva Orleans, podemos especular que ésta se hizo allí. El álbum de Bache comienza con siluetas de George y Martha Washington.
- En una época en que sólo los angloeuropeos poderosos quedaban inmortalizados en pinturas al óleo, esta silueta significó un momento excepcional para esta mujer de condición trabajadora. Así, aunque su identidad no se conozca, esta pequeña silueta augura un cambio en la marea. Ahora los estadounidenses de cualquier clase social podían hacerse retratos, igual que el presidente del país.
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; partial gift of Sarah Bache Bloise
- c. 1803-12
- Object number
- S/NPG.2002.184.54
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Type
- Silhouette
- Medium
- Cut paper silhouette on paper
- Dimensions
- Sheet: 7.9 × 5.6 cm (3 1/8 × 2 3/16")
- Frame: 47.9 × 37.8 × 3.2 cm (18 7/8 × 14 7/8 × 1 1/4")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Silhouette\Cut-out
- Unidentified Woman: Female
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_S_NPG.2002.184.54
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4e198ea14-711f-4a10-95c4-d8ded0152a33
