Alice in a White Hat 1904

Lilla Cabot Perry created this portrait, Alice in a White Hat, in the late 19th or early 20th century, using pastel on paper. Perry was an American Impressionist, who spent time in France and became closely associated with Claude Monet. Here, the influence of French Impressionism is clear. In its time, this style represented a shift away from the strict academic painting towards looser, more informal approaches. Consider the way Perry's loose strokes render the texture of Alice's clothing and hat. We see the values and ideals of a new social class emerging, one that had the economic means and the desire for art that was free from the burden of representing moral or historical subjects. Art historical research into Impressionism and the role of women artists can help us understand the complex social and institutional dynamics that shaped this artwork.