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Student Artwork Guide

BeforeAMirror

Thomas Wilmer Dewing, 1910

Name Class Date
Thomas Wilmer Dewing, BeforeAMirror (1910). Public domain.

The facts

Artist
Thomas Wilmer Dewing artsdot.com/en/artists/thomas-wilmer-dewing/
Artist’s dates
1851 – 1938
Painted
1910
Medium
Oil
Movement
Tonalism Quiet landscapes wrapped in mist and shadow, built from a narrow range of closely related tones.
Period
19th Century
Artistic style
Tonalism
Notable elements or techniques
Soft colors and delicate brushstrokes
Subject or theme
Two women admiring themselves in a mirror

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Thomas Wilmer Dewing died in 1938; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 2008.

Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Aug. 27, 2026

BeforeAMirror — Thomas Wilmer Dewing Part 1 · The artwork

In context

BeforeAMirror — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

When was this painted?

  1. 1850
  2. 1860
  3. 1870
  4. 1880
  5. 1890
  6. 1900
  7. 1910
  8. 1920
  9. 1930

Shaded: the lifetime of Thomas Wilmer Dewing (1851–1938) ▲ this work, 1910

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/thomas-wilmer-dewing-beforeamirror-9GZQ4T-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Phthalo Green #261311

    Catalogued palette

    • #261311
    • #E2B175
    • #BE7632
    • #6E3115
    Palette
    Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Phthalo Green
    Intensity
    Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Aug. 27, 2026

    BeforeAMirror — Thomas Wilmer Dewing Part 2 · In context

    About this artwork

    BeforeAMirror — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

    Thomas Wilmer Dewing's Before a Mirror, dated 1910, is a captivating portrait that exudes elegance and sophistication. The painting features two women in fancy dresses standing next to each other, admiring themselves in a mirror. This artwork is a testament to Dewing's skill in capturing the essence of his subjects with grace and poise.

    Composition and Setting

    The composition of Before a Mirror is carefully crafted to create a sense of intimacy and refinement. The two women are positioned on either side of the frame, with one standing closer to a chair located near the center of the image. A couch can be seen in the background, adding depth and context to the scene. The overall atmosphere of the painting suggests a moment of quiet contemplation, as the women seem to be lost in their own reflections.

    Artistic Style

    Dewing's artistic style is characterized by his use of soft colors and delicate brushstrokes. In Before a Mirror, he employs a muted color palette to create a sense of serenity and calmness. The women's dresses are rendered in intricate detail, showcasing Dewing's attention to texture and fabric. The mirror serves as a focal point, reflecting the women's images and adding a sense of depth to the composition.

    Comparison with Other Works

    Dewing's Lady in White (No. 1) and Lady with a Cello also feature women as subjects, but they differ in their settings and moods. While Before a Mirror is more subdued, these other works showcase Dewing's ability to capture a range of emotions and environments.

    Conclusion

    Before a Mirror by Thomas Wilmer Dewing is a captivating portrait that showcases the artist's skill in capturing the essence of his subjects. The painting's composition, setting, and artistic style all contribute to its sense of elegance and sophistication. For those interested in exploring more of Dewing's works, Before a Mirror is available for viewing on AllPaintingsStore.com.

    Charles Webster Hawthorne's The Red Gown also features a woman as the subject, but with a different mood and setting.

    Claudia Coca Sánchez's self-portraits offer a critical reflection on contemporary political and cultural issues.

    AllPaintingsStore.com offers handmade oil painting reproductions of famous artworks, including those by Thomas Wilmer Dewing. Visit their website to explore more captivating portraits like Before a Mirror.

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Aug. 27, 2026

    BeforeAMirror — Thomas Wilmer Dewing Part 3 · About this artwork

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Thomas Wilmer Dewing

    Born in Boston, United States of America

    **early life and training**

    thomas wilmer dewing, an american painter, was born on may 4, 1851, in boston, massachusetts. his artistic journey began with a lithographic apprenticeship, which later led him to the prestigious académie julian in paris, where he studied under gustave boulanger and jules lefebvre starting from 1887.

    **artistic style and notable works**

    dewing's artistic style is characterized by his tonalist paintings, a genre deeply rooted in english aestheticism. his preferred subjects were aristocratic women, often depicted in moody, dreamlike surroundings, playing instruments or engaging in introspective activities. woman in black: portrait of maria oakey dewing (1887), a poignant oil on panel, showcases his wife, an accomplished painter with extensive formal art training. *lady in gold* (1912), now at the brooklyn museum, exemplifies his mastery of capturing the essence of his subjects.

    **teaching and associations**

    dewing was a founding member of the ten american painters in 1898 and taught at the art students league of new york. his association with the society of landscape painters, founded in 1899, further solidified his position within the tonalist movement.

    **legacy and collections**

    * the freer gallery of art at the smithsonian institution has a dedicated room for dewing's works. * notable collectors include john gellatly and charles lang freer.

    view thomas wilmer dewing's collection on AllPaintingsStore

    more on thomas dewing at wikipedia

    explore the freer gallery of art at the smithsonian institution for more tonalist masterpieces.

    **later life and death**

    dewing's artistic output declined after 1920. he passed away in new york on november 5, 1938, leaving behind a legacy of captivating, ethereal portraits that continue to intrigue art enthusiasts. *key works and collections available for reproduction at AllPaintingsStore: the white dress woman in black: portrait of maria oakey dewing lady in gold discover the world's most famous paintings with AllPaintingsStore's extensive collection

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for BeforeAMirror

    artsdot.com/en/art/download/thomas-wilmer-dewing-beforeamirror-9GZQ4T-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Dewing, Thomas Wilmer. BeforeAMirror. 1910, https://artsdot.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-beforeamirror-9GZQ4T-en/
    APA
    Dewing, Thomas Wilmer (1910). BeforeAMirror [Painting]. https://artsdot.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-beforeamirror-9GZQ4T-en/
    Chicago
    Thomas Wilmer Dewing. BeforeAMirror. 1910. https://artsdot.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-beforeamirror-9GZQ4T-en/
    Harvard
    Dewing, Thomas Wilmer (1910) BeforeAMirror. Available at: https://artsdot.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-beforeamirror-9GZQ4T-en/

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Aug. 27, 2026

    BeforeAMirror — Thomas Wilmer Dewing Part 4 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    BeforeAMirror — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: portrait, two women, mirror. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Comedia (1894), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Tonalism: Quiet landscapes wrapped in mist and shadow, built from a narrow range of closely related tones. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.