Back of a Woman (from McGuire Scrapbook)

Art Historical Context

**Back of a Woman (from McGuire Scrapbook *Shepard Alonzo Mount,. 1857* ite on white wove, 8 5/8 x 7 3/16 in. (21.9 x 18.3 cm) Step into the intimate world of 19th American sketching with *Back of a Woman*, poised graphite study by Shepard Alonzo Mount created around 1857. This yet evocative drawing, preserved in the McGuire Scrapbook, the subtle contours and posture of a woman seen from behind. Rendered on white wove paper—a smooth, durable support favored for detailed work—Mount employs graphite's versatility for soft shading and precise lines, highlighting his mastery of the human form in everyday observation. Mount, a key figure in American genre art, often explored rural life and figure studies like this one, which likely served as preparation for paintings. Dating to the antebellum era, the piece reflects the period's growing interest in naturalism and the female silhouette, evoking quiet dignity amid domestic scenes. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing and gifted by James C. McGuire in 1926, it invites us to appreciate the artist's preparatory process and the cultural lens on women in mid-19th-century America. A hidden gem for sketch enthusiasts!