Woman in an Armchair
1920/1925
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
overall: 92.4 x 73.7 cm (36 3/8 x 29 in.) framed: 113.7 x 94.9 x 7.6 cm (44 3/4 x 37 3/8 x 3 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CMC
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Chester Dale Collection
Accession Number
1963.10.72
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
André Derain’s *Woman in an Armchair* (1920–1925) captures a moment of artistic transition in the years following World War I. Once a leading figure of the bold, color-driven Fauve movement alongside Matisse, Derain turned toward a more measured, classical approach during this period. This oil on canvas reflects that “return to order,” favoring structured forms and restrained palettes over the vibrant experiments of his earlier career. Painted in traditional oils, the work demonstrates Derain’s continued mastery of the medium’s rich textures and subtle tonal shifts. The subject—a seated woman—suggests an intimate, everyday scene rendered with quiet dignity. Now part of the Chester Dale Collection at the National Gallery of Art, the painting offers visitors a glimpse into how European artists reexamined tradition while navigating the cultural changes of the 1920s.
About the Artist
André Derain · 1879–1917
French painter. Comment on works: Landscapes