Making Her Toilet by William Merritt Chase

This highly delicate artwork is a fine example of American Impressionism, strongly influenced by the wave of Japonisme that marked artists of the era. Painted by the artist Chase William Merritt, this refined composition entitled “Making Her Toilet” depicts a woman from behind contemplating herself in a standing mirror. The painter subtly captures an intimate daily moment filled with grace and silent poetry.

At the center of the canvas, a woman seen from behind stands facing a large standing rectangular mirror. She wears an elegant light lavender or lilac kimono dotted with discrete golden floral patterns and cinched with a wide yellow obi sash. In her right hand, she holds a light-colored traditional round fan. The mirror reflects in a soft blurred manner her face and the front of her kimono, as well as a small bunch of yellow flowers placed in a vase on the dark wooden dressing table. A white ceramic jar also sits on this table. The dark purple background of the room reinforces the intimacy of the scene.

The artwork brilliantly showcases the artist’s remarkable craftsmanship in oil painting. Merritt excels in rendering the silky texture of the kimono and the delicate nuances of light reflected in the mirror. His prestigious palette and refined style bring a striking realism and a mysterious atmosphere to this intimate scene.