Lady in White Seated. Right Hand to Chin. Holding Fan. 

Edwin Austin Abbey created this pastel drawing, "Lady in White Seated," at some point in his career. The society portrait was a staple of late 19th-century art, reflecting the consolidation of wealth among industrialists in both America and Europe. Abbey was an American artist who spent much of his career in England. There, he became known as an illustrator and painter, often producing scenes from Shakespeare and other literary classics. This portrait, with its emphasis on costume and pose, may reflect that interest in historical subjects. The woman's dress, with its large sleeves, is reminiscent of an earlier era. Note how her hand gestures and distant gaze suggest a sense of refinement and leisure. What social class is being represented here? To understand this artwork better, we would need to research the artist's life and career, as well as the social context in which he worked. What can costume history tell us about the dress worn by the sitter?