Technique

It was painted in watercolour and bodycolour on fibrous pastel paper that has a fine vertical grain. It has a fine surface, but also long fibres, which show where Whistler made alterations, as in the work on her hat. The paint was used boldly, in effective masses, building up the tones. The boa was painted with sinuous black brushstrokes.

Conservation History

The paper is much smaller than the board upon which it is laid, which measures 281 x 188 mm (11 1/16 x 7 3/8"). The edges have been abraded. It appears that the picture was touched up at the edge and on the board, probably by another hand, after mounting.