What we see

Take a moment to look at these two paintings of young women. What do you notice about them that looks the same? What about them is different?

How we feel

Do you think their clothes are important to them? If someone wanted to paint a picture of you what clothes would you wear? Which artist would you like to paint your portrait?

What we think

What can you tell me about these women? Do you think you would like one person more than the other? Why? How does the pose the artist has painted these women in change the way you feel about them?

How it was made

Artists have to select what medium they want to use when they create a work of art. An advantage to watercolour is that it is inexpensive, easy to mix and dries quickly. Unfortunately, the portrait on the left shows it can also fade with time. Oil painting is more resistant to light but is more expensive and takes a longer time to dry.

About the artist

William Colin Frith (1819-1909) was a member of the Royal Academy in England. When he began his career as an artist he disliked the “stuffiness” of most paintings produced by members of the Academy. Later, he enjoyed great success painting images of women in fashionable dress in private moments.

Links

You can find more of Frith’s paintings in the Beaverbrook Art Gallery’s website in Collections: http://www.beaverbrookartgallery.org/collections.asp