Portrait of Young Girl with Shoulderless Gown n.d.

Elizabeth Murray’s watercolor, "Portrait of Young Girl with Shoulderless Gown" at the Art Institute of Chicago, presents a delicate balance of form and subtle tones. The composition, dominated by soft, muted colors, draws our eye to the girl’s face, framed by gentle curls and a simple white gown. The structural simplicity here invites a closer look at the interplay between innocence and artifice. The shoulderless gown, a seemingly innocent detail, hints at societal expectations of presentation and decorum. Murray uses the transparency of watercolor to suggest a fleeting moment, capturing the subject's youth. The gray wash background isolates the figure, emphasizing her presence while simultaneously creating a sense of ethereal detachment. Murray challenges us to consider how we project values onto such images, using form to evoke a discourse around representation.