Gilder Palmer Family Archive
Self Portrait of Helena de Kay Gilder Holding Rodman, Pregnant with Richard Watson Gilder Jr.
1879 — an intimate charcoal self-portrait
- Artist: Helena De Kay Gilder
- Medium: Charcoals
- Date: ca. 1879–1880
Family Art Historian
Every acquisition is finalized in personal consultation with Mrs. Linda Gilder Palmer, the family's art historian. Once you submit at checkout, she will contact you with provenance, condition reports, and final payment instructions.
We always advise you to do your own research and due diligence — feel free to contact us before making any payments.
This intimate charcoal self-portrait captures Helena De Kay Gilder during a profoundly personal moment — pregnant with her son, Richard Watson Gilder Jr. (1879). With tender precision, Helena depicts herself holding Rodman, symbolizing the intimate bonds of family and life. The delicate shading and expressive lines showcase her mastery of charcoal as a medium, evoking both strength and vulnerability — a rare glimpse into the artist's private world.
