Who painted Portrait of a woman (1548)?

Portrait of a woman (1548) was painted by Catarina van Hemessen in 1548-01-01.

Where can I see Portrait of a woman (1548)?

Portrait of a woman (1548) is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of a woman (1548)?

Portrait of a woman (1548) is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of a woman (1548)?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of a woman (1548) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of a woman (1548)

Catarina van Hemessen , 1548

Portrait of a woman (1548) is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Catarina van Hemessen. It dates from 1548 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1548, this oil painting presents a seated woman before a plain, dark backdrop.

About this work

She wears a black dress with a high collar and a dark head covering, holding her hands together in front of her.

A woman stands against a dark, plain background. She wears a black dress with a high collar and a dark head covering, holding her hands together in front of her. A bright red string hangs from her neck.

Her face is pale with light eyes, and the brushwork shows fine details in her hair and clothing.

The artist signed the painting in the top right corner with her name and the year 1548. This is one of the earliest known portraits painted by a woman artist.

Look up Catarina van Hemessen to see more of her work.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a woman shown half-length, with her hands resting before her abdomen and a long gold chain around her neck. The identity of the sitter is uncertain. The Rijksmuseum has considered the work a probable self-portrait of Catarina van Hemessen, but comparison with her only known self-portrait suggests that this identification is unlikely, leaving the subject unidentified.

The gold chain worn by the sitter is the principal piece of jewelry visible, drawing attention to the chest and hands and serving as a marker of status consistent with mid-sixteenth-century Netherlandish portrait conventions.

Technique & Style

The work is executed in oil paint on panel, a support combination consistent with mid-sixteenth-century Netherlandish practice. The composition presents the sitter half-length, with the hands positioned before the abdomen and a long gold chain encircling the neck, rendered with the controlled, linear handling typical of Catarina van Hemessen's portrait style. The painting is signed and dated in Latin in the upper right, reading 'CATHERINA DE HEMESSEN PINXIT 1548', with the inscription integrated into the panel surface. The support measures 24 cm in height by 17 cm in width, indicating a small-scale, intimate format.

History & Provenance

The work titled Portrait of a woman (1548) was created by Catarina van Hemessen in 1548 using oil paint on panel. It is signed and dated in Latin on the upper right edge as 'CATHERINA•DE / HEMESSEN• / PINXIT • / 1548' and depicts Catarina van Hemessen, though its identification as a self-portrait remains uncertain. The painting entered the Rijksmuseum collection in 1878 following its bequest by Franciscus Gijsbertus Staatskin baron van Brakell tot den Brakell (1809–1878) of Arnhem. It is currently housed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

The painting is held in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it was bequeathed in 1878 by Franciscus Gijsbertus Staatskin baron van Brakell tot den Brakell. The work entered the museum's collection directly from this donation in Arnhem. While the museum identifies the subject as likely being a self-portrait of the artist Catarina van Hemessen, comparative analysis suggests this attribution is incorrect.

The provided sources do not list specific inventory or accession numbers for the piece, nor do they record any exhibition history or public display dates.

Legacy

Catarina van Hemessen's 1548 Portrait of a woman influenced later portraiture through its subtle psychological depth and domestic symbolism, particularly in its handling of gesture and material detail. The work's attribution to the artist and its date established a rare documented lineage for female artists in the 16th century, supporting later scholarship on women's contributions to Northern Renaissance art. Its presence in the Rijksmuseum collection since the 19th century has ensured continued visibility, though its interpretation as a self-portrait remains debated among scholars.

Overview

Created in 1548, this oil painting presents a seated woman before a plain, dark backdrop. She is dressed in a black gown with a high collar, a modest head covering, and a vivid red string at her throat. Her hands are clasped in front of her, and her pale complexion and light eyes are rendered with meticulous detail.

Context

Catarina van Hemessen is recognized as the first Flemish woman artist whose signed works have survived. Her career, concentrated in the late 1540s and early 1550s, focused on intimate portraiture of women, a genre that allowed her to navigate the gendered constraints of the period while demonstrating professional skill.