John White Alexander's graceful depictions of beautiful women earned him critical acclaim both in Europe and America. He began his career as an illustrator for Harper's Weekly, but eventually decamped for Europe with Frank Duveneck and William Merritt Chase. Eventually he moved to Paris with his wife and stayed there for 10 years. He became a leading proponent of Art Nouveau, as witnessed in his paintings of elongated women artfully posed in mysterious backgrounds.

Silhouette of a Young Girl demonstrates Alexander's expert draftsmanship. The drawing itself is simple in that it doesn't get mired in a wealth of detail, yet it is also sophisticated in Alexander's use of an elegant, refined line. That the sitter is turned in three-quarter view away from the viewer adds a sense of mystery to the work, as does the dark background. As with Alexander's other depictions of women, Silhouette of a Young Girl highlights his ability to create works that have an almost decorative quality in their rhythm and beauty yet don't display sentimentality.