Lady in Yellow (Mrs. Codman)

"Lady in Yellow, identified as Mrs. Codman, was commissioned by the sitter's husband. In complete contrast to the tranquil women of Tarbell's Vermeer-like interiors, Mrs. Codman is presented in a frontal attitude, staring directly at the viewer and occupying a space close to the picture plane. Her features are neither romanticized nor softened, but instead suggest strength and individuality. The sitter is defined by these qualities of expression rather than by the setting. Her considerable presence is intensified by the varying tones of chalky yellow applied with vigorous brushstrokes in the background." (Brandywine Valley to the Bay: Art From Private Collections, exhibition catalogue, Wilmington, Delaware, 1991, p. 132)