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

8 tags

Subject Matter

  • Silhouettes Both · 99%

    The catalog classifies the work as a silhouette and portrait, and the image clearly shows a single left-facing profile rendered as a dark cut-out.

  • Individual Portrait Both · 98%

    The title is “Unidentified Woman,” the catalog lists Portrait as a subject, and the image presents one individual's profile likeness.

  • Face Visual · 97%

    The sitter's facial contour—especially the forehead, nose, lips, chin, and neck—is the central visual structure of the image.

Visual Qualities

  • Flatness Visual · 95%

    The image is organized as a flat, filled dark shape against a pale ground, with the outline rather than modeled volume carrying the likeness.

  • Black and White Visual · 86%

    A near-black silhouette contrasts sharply with the pale, warm-toned paper support, producing a predominantly black-and-white tonal scheme with aged discoloration.

Medium and Techniques

  • Paper Cut-Outs Metadata · 99%

    The recorded medium is cut coated paper mounted on paper, corresponding directly to the visible cut-paper silhouette.

Time Periods

  • 19th Century Art Metadata · 98%

    The catalog dates the work circa 1804–06, placing it within the nineteenth century.

Materials

  • Use of Paper Metadata · 99%

    The catalog records both the cut coated paper and the paper support.

Source & rights

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