Skuespillerinden Johanne Cathrine Rosing
1850
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
1850
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This black-and-white portrait shows a woman in a high-necked dress, holding a small book or notebook in her right hand. Her hair is pulled back neatly, and she wears a plain collar with a bow at the neck. The background is dark, keeping the focus on her face and upper body. The woman’s serious expression and the way she grips the book suggest she might have been someone of importance or purpose. The painting’s style looks like an old photograph, but it’s actually made with brushstrokes—unlike a camera’s sharp edges. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how light and shadow create depth in paintings like this.
