Woman Standing 1923

Thomas Wilmer Dewing made this pastel drawing of a standing woman, working around the turn of the 20th century. Pastel is a particularly interesting material. Though now thought of as a drawing medium, pastels are simply pure pigment, bound into stick form. As you can see here, pastel lends itself to the depiction of soft, diffused light, which was very much in keeping with the aesthetic of the Gilded Age. But the character of the medium also carries a social message. Pastel doesn't require the same level of skill as oil paint, but can still convey an impression of luxury. The association of pastel with the feminine also ties into the figure depicted. Dewing often portrayed women in refined, contemplative poses, a vision of femininity that was cultivated by the upper classes. In the end, by considering the materials and processes, we come to a more complete understanding of the social context in which a work like this emerged.