Portrait of Etta Moten by Mary Peterson

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

This is an oil painting of Etta Moten Barnett by Mary C. Peterson. It depicts Etta Moten Barnett standing in the center of the portrait, shown from the thighs up. She stands with her hands clasped together in front of her, her body and head very slightly twisted away from the viewer. Her gaze is off to the viewer’s right. She wears a fitted mock-neck short sleeve shirt with narrow horizontal stripes in white dark red, green, rust, and navy. Her left wrist has several bracelets and possibly a watch. A colorful piece of green, yellow and pink cloth hangs from her hands. Visible next to her is the top part of a carved wood chair. Behind her is a dark purple drapery against a dull gold background with a partial gold floral pattern. In the bottom right corner is the artist’s signature and date.

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