Portrait of a Woman in a Windsor Chair (Primary Title)
Joseph Delaney, American, 1904–1991 (Artist)
Much like the painting practice of Joseph Delaney’s older brother Beauford (whose work is featured nearby in this gallery), Joseph infuses his work with a psychological charge that comes from the sitter’s gaze. Seated in a Windsor chair, the young woman stares outside of the canvas with her weight shifted to her right side as her hand drapes over the curved arm of the chair. The seated form, treatment of the hands, and unflinching but sympathetic expression suggest the woman as an accessible, thoughtful, and empathetic individual. Her gaze also suggests a woman who is both relaxed and considerate. Her relative proximity to the viewer contributes to the heightened sense of palpable humanity and dignity.
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