Polish Woman

Watteau's Polish Woman of around 1717 depicts an elegantly dressed figure in near-Eastern or Slavic costume — one of several exotic figure studies he made that reflect the early eighteenth-century European fascination with Ottoman and Eastern costume documented in the Recueil Ferriol. The costume study genre allowed Watteau to explore material and textile detail outside the French fashion context of his fête galante subjects, and the figure's individuality suggests a specific model whose dramatic costume fascinated him. Such works demonstrate the range of his interests beyond the aristocratic pleasure gardens.

Watteau renders the elaborate Polish costume with his characteristic sensitivity to fabric and texture. The rich colors of the exotic dress and the feathery brushwork create a luminous, decorative study of costume and character.