A Seated Woman, Shading her Eyes from the Light

Contemporary fashion was a favorite subject of François Watteau, known as Watteau de Lille to distinguish him from his famous great uncle, Jean-Antoine Watteau. François designed the 188 plates for the first-ever fashion periodical, the Gallerie des modes et costumes français, and this large sheet is similarly not a portrait but rather more a genre depiction of a stylish contemporary, wearing the fashionable robe à la polonaise. The sitter in this intimate close-up was likely Watteau's wife or one of his six sisters, who often served as his models.