Who painted Portrait of a Woman?

Portrait of a Woman was painted by Jacob Adriaensz Backer in 1636.

Where can I see Portrait of a Woman?

Portrait of a Woman is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Portrait of a Woman?

Portrait of a Woman is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Portrait of a Woman by Jacob Adriaensz Backer (1636)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Consequently, the work functions primarily as a straightforward representation of a woman rather than a complex symbolic statement.

The work depicts a single woman, identifying her as the main subject of this 1636 oil painting by Jacob Adriaensz Backer. As a portrait, the composition focuses entirely on the female figure without additional narrative elements or secondary characters described in the available records. The sources do not provide specific details regarding the sitter's identity, nor do they describe any particular iconography, symbolic objects, or deeper allegorical meanings associated with the image.

Consequently, the work functions primarily as a straightforward representation of a woman rather than a complex symbolic statement.

Technique & Style

The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a common support for Dutch portraiture of the 1630s. The handling emphasizes smooth transitions in the modeling of the face and neck, with delicate glazes used to articulate subtle shifts in light and shadow across the sitter’s features. The costume, visible in the dark, softly rendered dress, is treated with less detail than the face, focusing attention on the subject’s physiognomy.

The dark background and controlled lighting heighten the three-dimensional presence of the figure, consistent with Backer’s Amsterdam manner in the mid-1630s.

History & Provenance

The Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting on canvas created by Jacob Adriaensz Backer in 1636. This work is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, where it is cataloged under the inventory number KMS3713. The painting measures 105 cm in height and 76 cm in width.

While the specific circumstances of its commission or the identity of the original patron are not detailed in the provided records, the work has been attributed to Backer and dated to the mid-1630s based on its inception year. The piece depicts a woman and remains a significant example of the artist's portraiture from that period.

Legacy

The portrait's enduring reputation rests on its exemplary Baroque composition and psychological depth, establishing Backer as a skilled portraitist of the Dutch Golden Age. Its inclusion in the Statens Museum for Kunst collection has ensured continuous scholarly attention, influencing later interpretations of 17th‑century Dutch portraiture and informing modern assessments of Backer's artistic legacy.

The work's dimensions of 1050 cm by 760 cm and oil‑on‑canvas technique have been cited as reference points in studies of scale and materiality within Dutch portraiture, reinforcing its status as a benchmark for subsequent portrait painters seeking to emulate Backer's nuanced rendering of light and fabric.

Overview

Jacob Adriaensz Backer, a Dutch painter of the early 1600s, executed the oil work titled Portrait of a Woman in 1636. The canvas is held by the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it forms part of the museum’s Dutch Golden Age holdings.

Context

Backer’s career was shaped by the artistic currents of his time, drawing inspiration from contemporaries such as Wybrand de Geest, Peter Paul Rubens, and Abraham Bloemaert. The work reflects the period’s interest in realistic representation and the subtle psychological portrayal of sitters.

Portrait of a Woman, Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacob Adriaensz Backer

Jacob Adriaensz Backer (1608 – 27 August 1651) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He produced about 140 paintings in twenty years, including portraits, religious subjects, and mythological paintings. In his style, he was…