Unidentified Woman

Unidentified Woman

William Bache, 22 Dec 1771 - 9 Jul 1845

Details

Dimensions
Image (approx): 7.9 × 7 cm (3 1/8 × 2 3/4"); Book closed: 47.3 × 34.9 × 4.8 cm (18 5/8 × 13 3/4 × 1 7/8"); Book open: 47.3 × 66.7 × 4.8 cm (18 5/8 × 26 1/4 × 1 7/8")
License
CC0-1.0
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; partial gift of Sarah Bache Bloise

Art Genome Taxonomy

7 tags

Subject Matter

  • Silhouettes Both · 99%

    The museum classifies the work as a silhouette and lists “Silhouette\Cut-out” among its subjects. The image visibly shows a dark profile defined almost entirely by its outer contour.

  • Individual Portrait Both · 98%

    The catalog identifies the subject as an unidentified woman and lists Portrait among the subjects. Visually, one isolated profile is presented as a likeness of an individual sitter.

  • Related to Fashion Both · 95%

    The catalog lists costume, headgear, hat, and bonnet. The image visibly shows projecting rounded headgear framing the sitter’s head and profile.

Visual Qualities

  • Black and White Visual · 93%

    The composition is dominated by a nearly black silhouette against a pale cream or yellowed ground, creating a strong black-and-white tonal contrast despite the paper’s aging coloration.

Medium and Techniques

  • Paper Cut-Outs Both · 99%

    The medium is specified as cut coated paper mounted on paper, and the image visibly shows a shaped cut-paper profile attached to a paper support.

  • Work on Paper Both · 99%

    The museum records the support as paper, and the image visibly presents the silhouette on a pale paper page or mount.

Time Periods

  • 19th Century Art Metadata · 97%

    The museum dates the work to circa 1804–1806, placing it within the nineteenth century.

Source & rights

William Bache, 22 Dec 1771 - 9 Jul 1845. Unidentified Woman. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; partial gift of Sarah Bache Bloise.