No single image did more to define the "Gibson Girl" than Trying it on by Charles Dana Gibson. When this drawing first appeared in print in the early 1900s, readers instantly recognized the tall, self-assured woman as the new ideal of American femininity—modern, independent, and witty. Gibson’s illustrations for magazines like Life and Collier’s were so influential that women across the country styled their hair and wardrobes after his creations.

The Gibson Girl became a phenomenon, sparking debates about gender roles and inspiring fashion trends from hats to shirtwaists. In Trying it on, we see this archetype at the height of her popularity. The scene captures a moment of private transformation: a young woman, poised before a mirror, tries on a lavish new hat. Her reflection meets the viewer’s gaze, suggesting both self-awareness and a playful confidence.

The delicate lines of her profile, the sweep of her upswept hair, and the exaggerated brim of the hat all signal the era’s fascination with elegance and display. Around her, the faint suggestion of a milliner’s shop or a well-appointed dressing room hints at the world of consumer choice newly available to women. Unlike the dreamy introspection of Mary Cassatt’s domestic interiors, Gibson’s heroine is fully engaged with the world, her assertive pose and direct look marking her as an active participant in shaping her own image. As with many of Gibson’s works, the exact original medium and date of Trying it on remain uncertain, as the artist’s drawings were often reproduced in magazines and later collected in books.

The drawing’s fame rests not on its presence in a single museum, but on its wide circulation and enduring influence on American visual culture. While some of Gibson’s original pen-and-ink drawings survive in private collections and institutions like the Library of Congress, many, including this one, are known primarily through their printed forms. Trying it on stands as a testament to Gibson’s skill at capturing the spirit of his age—and to the power of illustration to shape ideals and aspirations far beyond the gallery wall.