19th Century Art Archives - Page 5 of 26

A Modern Magdalen (about 1888)

William Merritt Chase (American, 1849–1916)

A woman leans forward, her face half-hidden in shadow. The loose brushstrokes blur her features, but the intensity in her posture lingers—neither penitent nor seductive, just present. The background melts away, leaving only the weight of her stillness.
Fauna japonica Pl.024 (1833-1850)

Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold (German, 1796–1866)

Delicate wings spread against crisp paper, a Japanese insect preserved in ink. Every vein, every segment rendered with scientific precision—yet alive with motion, as if about to take flight from the page. Here, nature meets meticulous handwork, frozen in black and white.
Natural History (Galerya obrazowa zwiérząt czyli Historya naturalna) Pl.20 (1839)

Anton Benedikt Reichenbach (German, 1804–1877)

A detailed engraving of animals, their forms etched with precision—each line alive with texture and movement. The creatures seem to pause mid-motion, frozen in an intricate dance of fur, feather, and scale.
Children with Geese (1887)

Franz Xaver Gräßel (German, 1861–1948)

Two barefoot children pause in a sunlit field, their laughter silent as geese waddle close. One child reaches out, fingers brushing white feathers, while the other watches with wide eyes. The grass bends underfoot, alive with the quiet tension of trust between small hands and wary beaks.
Countess Alexander Nikolaevitch Lamsdorff (1859)

Franz Xaver Winterhalter (German, 1805–1873)

A young countess gazes past the viewer, her silk gown shimmering against dark fur. Pearls glint at her throat, catching the light like scattered stars. There’s a quiet defiance in her posture—aristocratic grace threaded with something unreadable. The lace at her wrists seems to tremble with unspoken words.
The Sonatina (1883)

John Collier (English, 1850–1934)

A young woman leans over the piano, fingers resting lightly on the keys. The sheet music lies open, but her gaze drifts away—lost in thought or memory. The room’s soft light catches the folds of her dress, the quiet pause before the first note breaks the silence.
A Vision of Fiammetta (1878)

Dante Gabriel Rossetti (English, 1828–1882)

Golden light spills over Fiammetta’s bowed head, her fingers lingering at the edge of a book. The rich red of her gown pools around her like spilled wine, while her distant gaze suggests a thought half-formed, a story left untold. The air hums with quiet longing.
Portrait Of Maria, Countess Von Dönhoff

Hans Makart (Austrian, 1840–1884)

Maria von Dönhoff’s gaze holds a quiet defiance, her opulent gown cascading in rich folds. The portrait breathes aristocratic poise, yet something flickers beneath the surface—a tension between grandeur and unspoken restraint. Her presence lingers, as if she might step out of the frame with a rustle of silk.
Breton Woman (c. 1899-1900)

Enrique Martínez Cubells (Spanish, 1874–1947)

A Breton woman stands solemnly, her weathered face framed by a crisp white cap. The heavy folds of her dark dress hint at labor, while her steady gaze holds quiet resilience. The light catches the texture of her apron, rough from years of work. There’s weight in her stillness.