Woman with a Pearl Necklace
1654
oil
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1654
oil
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This painting shows an older woman sitting in a dimly lit room. She’s wearing a dark brown cloak with a white collar and a pearl necklace. Her face is serious, and she holds a book open in front of her. The background is mostly dark, with a hint of a window or curtain on the right. The artist used deep shadows to make her face stand out, giving it a three-dimensional look. This was a common trick in the 1600s to add drama to portraits. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how this technique works in other paintings.
