This 1920's watercolor painting by Canadian artist Emily Carr depicts Indigenous leader Isabella Douse, known as the Kitwancool chieftainess, who provided Carr shelter when the artist visited Kitwancool (now Gitanyow) territory of the Gitxsan (or Kitksan) people in the historic Skeena Country of British Columbia.
Visible layering and shading give depth and texture to the mature leader's face with warm browns, tans, and hints of red. She is wearing a light-colored shirt under a dark shawl -- a blend of heavy blues, greens, and grays, giving it a muted, earthy feel. A green scarf rests at her neck. Her long straight black hair, parted in the middle, is painted with loose, fluid strokes, conveying its texture and shape.
There is careful shading around her eyes, rosy cheekbones, and red mouth, giving her face a three-dimensional quality. Her eyes are dark and expressive, appearing lifelike and engaging, to convey the woman's emotions in addition to her resolve and dignity.
Carr was inspired by the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Adopting a Modernist and Post-Impressionist style, Carr did not receive widespread recognition for her work until she changed subject matter from Aboriginal themes to landscapes—forest scenes in particular. As a writer, Carr was one of the earliest chroniclers of life in British Columbia. The Canadian Encyclopedia describes her as a "Canadian icon".
Mrs. Douse, Chieftainess of Kitwancool by Emily Carr (Canadian) - Watercolor on paper / c. 1928 - Royal BC Museum (Victoria, Canada) #womeninart #art #watercolor #CanadianArt #EmilyCarr #artwork #RoyalBCMuseum #CanadianArtist #womensart #dignity #womanartist #womenpaintingwomen #portraitofawoman