The artwork titled “Portrait of Grandmother,” created by Archibald Motley in 1922, is an exemplary piece of the Art Deco movement. Rendered on canvas, this portrait measures 38.25 by 23.88 centimeters. The genre of the artwork is portraiture, capturing the venerable essence of the artist’s grandmother.
The artwork meticulously depicts an elderly woman seated against a plain background, exuding a sense of grace and wisdom. Her hair is closely cropped and graying, symbolizing her age and experience. The grandmother is dressed in a simple white blouse with a brooch at the collar, complemented by an apron, suggesting a life dedicated to nurturing and domestic caretaking. Her hands rest gently in her lap, the veins and wrinkles of her skin painted with precise detail, emphasizing the passage of time. The somber color palette and the soft lighting subtly highlight her facial features, conveying a deep emotional resonance. The controlled brushwork and the composition’s simplicity evoke a profound respect for the subject’s dignity and the artist’s affection for his grandmother.
