Woman with Earring
Luis García Hevia, Woman with Earring, about 1850. Oil paint on canvas; 31½ x 24¼ in. Gift of Dr. Belinda Straight, 1984.718.
While colonial portraits aimed to show the status of the sitter rather than a physical likeness, a focus on realism and individual identity emerged in the early 1800s with the independence movement in Latin America. This post-colonial artist painted a highly individualized portrait that captures the essence of this elderly woman. Although the prominent gold and pearl drop earring hints at her wealth, this stand-out element also contributes to the woman’s confident—almost defiant—attitude.
-- Julie Wilson Frick, 2017
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