Who painted Portrait of a Woman holding a Book?

Portrait of a Woman holding a Book was painted by Jacob Adriaensz Backer in 1639.

Where can I see Portrait of a Woman holding a Book?

Portrait of a Woman holding a Book is held by Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

What movement is Portrait of a Woman holding a Book?

Portrait of a Woman holding a Book is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Portrait of a Woman holding a Book

Jacob Adriaensz Backer , 1639

Portrait of a Woman holding a Book is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Adriaensz Backer. It dates from 1639 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As a portrait genre piece created in 1639, the inclusion of these specific objects suggests themes of literacy, learning, or intellectual engagement.

The work depicts a woman holding a book, accompanied by glasses, which are central to its iconography. As a portrait genre piece created in 1639, the inclusion of these specific objects suggests themes of literacy, learning, or intellectual engagement. The subject is presented in a manner that emphasizes her connection to the written word and scholarly pursuits, typical of portraiture from this period that sought to convey the sitter's virtues or status through such attributes.

Technique & Style

Jacob Adriaensz Backer's Portrait of a Woman holding a Book is an oil painting executed on canvas, created in 1639. The work measures 77 cm in height and 64 cm in width. As a portrait, the composition focuses on a female subject depicted holding a book, with the inclusion of glasses as a distinct attribute within the scene. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.

History & Provenance

Jacob Adriaensz Backer created the oil-on-canvas Portrait of a Woman holding a Book in 1639. The work measures 77 cm in height and 64 cm in width. Historical records indicate the painting was once owned by Adolph Thiem and later by the dealer Charles Sedelmeyer before entering its current collection at the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

The specific commission details and the identity of the sitter remain unrecorded in the available documentation. The painting depicts a woman holding a book and wearing glasses, consistent with portraiture styles of the Dutch Golden Age during that period.

Portrait of a Woman holding a Book is housed in the Gemäldegalerie Berlin. The work carries the inventory number 2003-111 and has been part of the museum’s collection since its acquisition. It was previously owned by Charles Sedelmeyer and Adolph Thiem before entering the museum’s holdings.

The painting was displayed in the exhibition "Dutch and Flemish Masterpieces from German Collections" at the Gemäldegalerie in 2005.

Overview

Jacob Adriaensz Backer, a Dutch painter of the early 1630s, executed the work titled Portrait of a Woman Holding a Book in 1639. Rendered in oil on canvas, the piece is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin. It belongs to the tradition of 17th‑century portraiture that emphasizes individual presence through restrained composition.

Context

Backer’s career was shaped by the influence of contemporaries such as Wybrand de Geest, Peter Paul Rubens, and Abraham Bloemaert. While he is known for religious and mythological subjects, his portraiture reflects the Dutch Golden Age’s focus on middle‑class patrons who desired realistic, individualized representations.

Portrait of Margaretha de Geer, Wife of Jacob Trip, Nicolaes Maes

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…