This pastel on board artwork by American artist, illustrator, and sculptor Neysa Moran McMein was used for a 1920’s advertisement for Wallace Silver, with an image of a table setting reproduced below this chic woman. In the ad published in The Saturday Evening Post, January 8, 1921, the illustrator, Neysa McMein, was identified below the picture. McMein was famous for her magazine covers featuring beautiful and stylish (but unsmiling) women like this socialite, and the advertiser likely hoped to capitalize on her celebrity to sell their product. In the painting, a graceful unidentified young beauty is turned slightly away from our view, offering a view of her profile and back with her right hand gently holding part of her beaded necklace, creating a focal point. With dark, bobbed hair that is neatly arranged, her expression is somewhat introspective, looking slightly over her shoulder to her left. She has fair skin and is wearing a black, sleeveless gown with a low back and a sheer overlay, giving it a delicate, elegant look. McMein worked as both an illustrator and portrait artist. She was trained at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and at the Art Students League of New York. During WWI, McMein was an entertainer, along with Dorothy Parker, and illustrator for the military and travelled around France, work that awarded her the status of honorary non-commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps. After returning from the war, McMein illustrated articles, covers, and advertisements for magazines such as McClure's, McCall's, The Saturday Evening Post, and Collier's. The character of "Betty Crocker" was also first designed by McMein. She further painted portraits of several presidents, actors, and writers. Life magazine famously published an article on adult party games that featured McMein's popular New York gatherings, often entertaining the Algonquin Round Table, a group of local artist, writers, actors, and critics known for their wit.

The Admirable Hostess by Neysa Moran McMein (American) - Pastel on board / 1921 - Delaware Art Museum (Wilmington) #womeninart #art #pastelart #womanartist #femaleartist #womenpaintingwomen #womensart #style #AmericanArt #fashion #NeysaMoranMcMein #1920s #portraitofawoman #pastel #DelawareArtMuseum