No single image did more to define the so-called "Gibson Girl" than What does he want by Charles Dana Gibson. This drawing, reproduced widely in American magazines around the turn of the twentieth century, became a touchstone for the era's shifting ideals of femininity and courtship. Gibson’s illustrations were so influential that, by 1900, the "Gibson Girl" was not just a fictional type but a living fashion and social phenomenon, inspiring hairstyles, dress, and even public debate about women’s roles.

The title itself, What does he want, hints at the era’s fascination with the new, self-assured American woman—and the men who circled her. In the scene, a poised young woman sits at a table, her gaze direct yet unreadable, while a gentleman stands nearby, his posture tentative, almost hesitant. The tension is palpable: is he about to declare his feelings, or is he seeking something she is unwilling to give? Gibson’s signature pen-and-ink linework captures every nuance—the arch of the woman’s brow, the crisp folds of her blouse, the subtle distance between the two figures. The absence of background detail focuses all attention on the silent drama between them.

Unlike the more sentimental courtship scenes of Winslow Homer or the overtly moralizing tone of Howard Chandler Christy, Gibson’s work leaves the outcome ambiguous, inviting viewers to project their own interpretations. The precise date and medium of What does he want remain uncertain, as is often the case with Gibson’s magazine illustrations, which were created for mass publication rather than gallery display. Most likely published in the pages of Life or Collier’s Weekly around 1895–1905, the drawing would have reached thousands of readers in its original run. While many of Gibson’s originals are now held in American museum and library collections, this particular work’s whereabouts are unclear; it survives primarily through reproductions.

What does he want stands as a testament to Gibson’s unique role in shaping American visual culture, marking a high point in his career as the chronicler of an era’s ideals and anxieties.