◇ Portrait in Jade and Gold

This 1925 portrait presents a moment of quiet, intellectual interiority, as a golden-haired figure remains absorbed in a red volume. The composition is defined by a rhythmic, halo-like arrangement of teal foliage that frames the subject, creating an atmosphere of secular sanctity. The viewer is met with a sense of profound stillness, where the act of reading becomes a meditative, nearly liturgical experience.

Why We Picked It
The work is compelling for its sophisticated handling of color and texture, particularly the interplay between the translucent skin tones and the heavily patterned, moss-green background. Brewster’s brushwork is confident yet delicate, visible in the shimmering, impressionistic dabs of the subject's shawl and the intricate rendering of the teal pendant. The high-contrast pop of the red book serves as a brilliant focal point, grounding the ethereal, cool-toned palette of the rest of the canvas.

Notable Context
Painted at the height of the Interwar period, this piece reflects the evolving aesthetic of American Impressionism as it integrated more structured, decorative elements reminiscent of Art Nouveau. Anna Richards Brewster was deeply influenced by her father, the renowned marine painter William Trost Richards, but she carved her own path by focusing on the intimate connection between subjects and their environments. The 1920s saw a resurgence in "scholarly" portraiture, where the inclusion of a book symbolized the modern woman's expanding intellectual autonomy and the era's valuing of private, reflective spaces amidst a rapidly changing world.

About the Artist
Anna Richards Brewster (1870–1952) was a prolific American painter known for her landscapes and sensitive portraits. A traveler who studied in London and Paris, she was a frequent exhibitor at the National Academy of Design and the Royal Academy. Her work is celebrated for its luminosity and technical versatility, bridging the gap between 19th-century realism and 20th-century decorative modernism. Brewster remains a significant figure in American art history for her role in documenting both the natural world and the nuanced social character of her era.