Lady with a Lute 1886

"Lady with a Lute" is an 1886 painting by American artist Thomas Wilmer Dewing (1851-1938). The artwork showcases a woman in a dark green dress, seated in a dimly lit setting, playing a lute. Dewing's style, influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, emphasized a soft, ethereal atmosphere, often featuring melancholic figures. This painting captures the beauty of a solitary moment, with subtle brushstrokes and muted colors, highlighting the quietude of the subject. The painting is a great example of American Tonalism, a movement that flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, prioritizing mood and atmosphere over realism.