Frieseke was born in Michigan, yet he spent most of his time in France. He studied in more conservative Parisian academies before turning to the progressive Impressionist idiom. Frieseke was the leader of the Giverny Group, which included American Impressionists, who lived in close proximity to Claude Monet. His garden villa at Giverny is the setting for most of his works depicting women at leisure, either seated in gardens or in sun rooms. According to Frieseke’s own statement, he painted directly on the canvas without the aid of preliminary sketches.

Painted five years after Afternoon – Yellow Room, The Robe still exhibits the strong patterning that defines Frieseke’s work. Here, floral motifs and stripes are combined with the design of the figure’s lingerie. The solid blue carpet, brown floor, and white window frame act as foils for the patterned interior.

Kilmer, Nicholas, David Sellin, Barbara H. Weinberg, and Virginia M. Mecklenberg. Frederick Carl Frieseke: The Evolution of an American Impressionist. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001.