# Study of a Girl's Head and Shoulders

- By: James McNeill Whistler (American, 1834–1903)
- Date: 1896–97
- Medium: Oil on panel
- Classification: Painting
- Dimensions: 15.5 × 9.5 cm (6 1/8 × 3 3/4 in.)
- Culture: United States
- Credit line: Walter S. Brewster Collection
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/14317)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/f59015ec-07d0-ebbf-6d57-647af5ef4a41/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

In addition to large-scale portraits, James McNeill Whistler created small-scale likenesses, often on wood panel, as in this painting of a young sitter. A well-known beauty, Olga Caracciolo lived in Dieppe, France, likely where this work was executed, and later married the photographer Adolf de Meyer. Rather than a swift, abbreviated study for a larger composition, Whistler considered a work such as this to be a satisfying aesthetic whole. Indeed, small paintings serve as invitations for an intimate viewing experience and contemplation of the artist’s harmonies of color and form.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0