Portrait of Katharine Rice 1900

Thomas Pollock Anshutz painted this portrait of Katharine Rice, an actress, at an unknown date. Anshutz, an American artist known for his realist depictions of industrial life and portraiture, here captures Rice in what appears to be a theatrical costume. Painted during a time when women were challenging traditional roles, this portrait invites us to consider the performative aspects of identity, gender, and class. Rice, adorned in a striking red gown and holding a fan, exudes confidence. Her direct gaze challenges the viewer, disrupting passive representations of women in art, even inviting a connection or challenging traditional notions of beauty. The painting thus becomes an exploration of the boundaries between public and private personas, representation and reality. Anshutz’s portrayal of Katharine Rice embodies a shift towards the assertive and complex representation of women, reflecting the changing dynamics of the early 20th century.