Seated Young Woman Reading
1878
Medium
Graphite on ivory wove paper
Dimensions
29 × 21.8 cm (11 7/16 × 8 5/8 in.)
Classification
graphite
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
45960
Art Historical Context
In the serene *Seated Young Woman Reading* (1878), French artist Jules Jacquet captures an intimate moment of quiet contemplation. Created in graphite on ivory wove—a smooth, high-quality surface ideal for delicate shading and precise lines—this drawing measures 29 × 21.8 cm and exemplifies the meticulous techniques of 19th-centurysmanship. Jacquet, active in the academic tradition of the French Salon, renders the young woman's relaxed pose with soft tonal gradations, highlighting the subtle play of light on fabric and skin for a lifelike intimacy. This work reflects the era's fascination wit...