p hf bookplate024 #229 Harrison Fisher

The drawing presents a young woman seated within what appears to be a motorcar. She is positioned in profile, facing left, and occupies most of the compositions space. The artist has rendered her in a muted palette dominated by shades of red-brown for her dress and bonnet, contrasted against the silvery tones of the vehicle’s metalwork.
The woman’s attire suggests a fashionable turn of the century style; the long, flowing dress with its high collar is complemented by a close-fitting bonnet adorned with what seems to be a decorative element. She holds a small, folded piece of paper in her gloved hand, hinting at correspondence or perhaps a ticket. Her gaze is directed outward, beyond the frame, suggesting a sense of anticipation or journey.
The vehicle itself is depicted with an emphasis on its mechanical components – the visible engine and chassis contribute to a feeling of modernity and technological advancement. The artist’s rendering of the cars form is somewhat stylized, prioritizing elegance over precise detail.
A border frames the scene, lending it the appearance of a bookplate or illustration intended for personal use. This framing device reinforces the sense that this is a portrait of an individual, likely belonging to a specific family or social group. The overall impression conveyed is one of refined leisure and emerging modernity – a snapshot of a woman engaged with the burgeoning automobile age. Theres a subtle air of detachment about her posture; she seems both present within the scene and somewhat removed from it, perhaps reflecting a certain societal distance between those who embraced new technologies and those who did not.