She Came In...Her Hands Full of the Violets Stuart Loved
19th century
Medium
Brush and black and gray wash, heightened with white gouache, over graphite, on ivory wove paper
Dimensions
28.3 × 21.6 cm (11 3/16 × 8 9/16 in.)
Classification
ink or chalk wash
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
3497
Art Historical Context
Gertrude A. Steel's *She Came In...Her Full of the Violets Loved* (19th century) captures a, intimate moment through delicate mixed-media techniques on ivory wove paper. Measuring 28.3 × 21.6 cm, this drawing from the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints Drawings department employs brush and black and gray wash heightened with white gouache graphite underdrawing. The washes create subtle tonal gradations and luminous highlights, evoking the soft glow of natural light—a hallmark of 19th draftsmanship prized for its subtlety and emotional depth. The evocative title hints at a narrative of affectio...