This is among the last known works by Gwen John. The dry, chalky effect she created in her oil paintings is also used here. John experimented with pigments to achieve different tonal effects and has here combined oil paint with bodycolour, an opaque watercolour. It is one of a series of works using the same composition.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales houses an unrivalled collection of works by Gwen John, mainly works that remained in the artist’s studio at her death. Her nephew Edwin John inherited her estate and found her paintings stacked up and a ‘mass of beautiful drawings’. He kept much of the collection together and in 1976 the Museum acquired over 900 works from it Many of the studio works are unfinished studies or rapid sketches, but the collection gives a unique insight into Gwen’s working methods and subjects.