1637
oil
panel
From the collection of Mauritshuis
Portrait of a Woman in Profile is a 1637 oil by Gerrit Dou, a Dutch Golden Age work, held at Mauritshuis.
This painting shows a woman's profile from the shoulders up. She wears a dark dress with a fur collar, a white lace collar, and a headscarf. Her hair is pulled back, and she has a small earring. The background is black. The woman's face is turned to the left, and her features are delicate. Her eyes are cast downward, and her mouth is set in a gentle expression. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and volume in the painting. Look up the technique of chiaroscuro.
Gerrit Dou (pronounced ; 7 April 1613 – 9 February 1675), also known as Gerard Douw or Dow, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, whose small, highly polished paintings are typical of the Leiden fijnschilders.
See the richer artist page
