Dorothy and Her Sister 1901

"Dorothy and Her Sister" (1901) by William Merritt Chase is a portrait of two young girls, one seated and the other standing behind her. The seated girl, Dorothy, is adorned in a light-colored dress and holds her hands in her lap. The standing girl, perhaps Dorothy's sister, is dressed in white and is adjusting her hair. Chase's masterful use of light and shadow gives the painting a sense of depth and warmth, typical of his style, known as American Impressionism. The work exemplifies Chase’s focus on capturing the beauty of everyday life and the intimacy of family relationships.