Catharine Hendrickson c. 1770

Daniel Hendrickson painted this portrait of Catharine Hendrickson using oil on canvas. Immediately, one notices the overall symmetry and deliberate composition, which lend the work a sense of formality and considered structure. The palette is earthy, dominated by the terracotta dress that contrasts gently with the muted greens and browns of the landscape. Hendrickson employs a flat, almost naive perspective, creating a shallow depth of field. This flattens the picture plane and directs our attention to the surface, inviting us to contemplate its formal elements rather than get lost in illusionistic space. The stylized rendering of nature - the symmetrical trees, the floating birds - disrupts any sense of naturalism. The painting challenges the conventional portraiture of its time, offering instead a meditation on form and representation itself. It reminds us that every artistic choice carries meaning.