A woman sits upright in a dark, plain interior, her gaze directed outward with a calm and steady expression. She wears a white linen cap and a broad, flat collar that stands out against her somber black dress, the crisp folds of the fabric rendered with careful, textured brushwork. In her right hand, she delicately holds a single pink carnation, the Dianthus caryophyllus, its petals painted in soft reds and pinks that contrast with the subdued tones of her clothing.

The background is a deep, warm brown, creating a sense of intimacy and focusing attention on the sitter’s pale face and hands. Light falls from the left, illuminating her features and the white of her collar and cuffs, while the shadows on her dress and the wall behind her add depth and volume. The artist’s brushstrokes are visible in the textured surface of the tablecloth and the subtle modeling of the flesh, especially in the hands and face.

Small details, such as the gold ring on her finger and the delicate lace edging of her collar, are picked out with precise touches of paint. A heavy red-orange cloth covers the table at the right, with its folds and woven pattern suggested by loose, textured brushwork. The lower left and right corners of the painting are darkened, blending the woman’s black dress into the background and emphasizing her illuminated hands.

The chair behind her is upholstered in a muted red fabric, visible along the left edge of the image. The light creates a soft highlight along the edge of her white cap and the top of her forehead, while her cheeks show subtle touches of pink. The subject is a portrait of a woman holding a Dianthus caryophyllus, a flower known as a pink or carnation. A Woman Holding a Pink is part of the Andrew W.

Mellon collection.