[1] It was painted in 1905 and exhibited at the Salon d'Automne during the autumn of the same year, along with works by André Derain, Maurice de Vlaminck and several other artists later known as "Fauves".

The size, format, pose, and costume suggest a society portrait but distinctly depart from earlier painting styles.

[7] These brushstrokes and colors define the piece, directing the viewer's attention to details such as the gloved hand and ornate fan.

This goal inspired the Woman with a Hat, departing from previous painting techniques and demonstrating a shift in the French art world known as Fauvism.

[8] In the painting itself, Matisse began with a roughly sketched outline, filling the work with contrasting strokes of color rather than defined shapes.

The centerpiece of this exhibit was another work by Matisse, Le Bonheur de Vivre (The Joy of Life), demonstrating his central role in the beginning of this movement.

"[11] Gertrude and Leo Stein bought the controversial Woman with a Hat for 500 francs, boosting Matisse's morale after the initial harsh criticism of his work.