Her Leisure Hour

About this artwork

Irving Wiles painted many portraits of society women that emphasized their elaborate costumes and jewelry. One writer for Scribner's Magazine commented that Wiles painted women's ribbons, veils, and laces with "as much character as he puts in the expression of their faces." But in Her Leisure Hour, the girl's unhappy expression is at odds with her luxurious surroundings, as if she could find no interest in any of the books behind her, and took no pleasure in her elegant clothes.

Art Historical Context

In Irving R. Wiles’s painting Her Leisure Hour, a young woman in a flowing pink-and-white gown reclines on a sofa before tall bookshelves. Loose brushstrokes capture the soft folds of her dress and the muted light that falls across the scene, while her downturned gaze and relaxed yet listless posture convey a quiet mood. The richly furnished room, with its dark wood and crowded volumes, forms a striking backdrop to her solitary figure. Wiles specialized in portraits of society women, rendering their elaborate costumes and accessories with particular attention. A writer for Scribner’s Magazine observed that he gave women’s ribbons, veils, and laces “as much character as he puts in the expression of their faces.” In this work from around 1925, however, the sitter’s unhappy expression stands in contrast to her luxurious surroundings, suggesting that neither the books behind her nor her elegant attire bring her satisfaction. Now in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Her Leisure Hour encourages viewers to look beyond outward signs of comfort and consider the inner life of its subject.