Lady in White 1895 

Thomas Wilmer Dewing created *Lady in White* around 1895, a chalk drawing of a woman seated. Dewing was part of the American Renaissance, an art movement marked by a renewed national self-confidence following the Civil War, coupled with a strong interest in European art and culture. This drawing captures the aesthetic values of the time, particularly its idealization of women. The woman in white is depicted with an ethereal, dreamlike quality, embodying the period's fascination with beauty, delicacy, and refinement. Her identity is secondary to her aesthetic presence, typical of how women were often portrayed in art as objects of beauty rather than individuals with depth and agency. As you observe the drawing, consider how the woman's posture and expression, or lack thereof, reflect the restrictive societal expectations placed on women. The haziness of the chalk adds to the sense of detachment. *Lady in White* encapsulates a moment in history when art served to reinforce societal norms and ideals, even as it offered a space for exploring beauty and emotion.