Old Womanc. 1923–24 · Study 1988.94

Context from the museum

In the nearly 200 portraits Chaïm Soutine painted, he was remarkably consistent in his approach:he almost always painted solitary, unidentified models, seated in half- or three-quarter-length poses facing frontally with hands placed on the hips or folded in the lap, as seen here. The physical distortions—the woman’s large hands, arched green eyebrows, and pointed chin—executed with agitated, slashing brushstrokes heighten the portrait’s expressive qualities. The sitter here is remarkably similar to the figure in another Soutine portrait of a schoolteacher named Melanie at the Columbus Museum of Art.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Roald Dahl, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , was inspired by Soutine's work for his short story "Skin."

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected unframed measurement for Old Woman is 54 cm wide and 65 cm high, equivalent to approximately 21.3 × 25.6 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.83:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.35 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 18.0% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 123.0 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Old Woman in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, oil on canvas, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 54 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?