Portrait of a Lady
1631
oil
From the collection of National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina
1631
oil
From the collection of National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina
The painting shows a woman's head and shoulders. She is looking at the viewer with a serious expression. Her dark hair is covered with a white cap and a black veil. A white collar frames her face. The background is dark, which makes her face stand out. The woman's clothing and hairstyle suggest that she lived a long time ago. The artist used oil paint to create a detailed and realistic portrait. The dark background and the lighting on the woman's face are examples of a technique called chiaroscuro. To learn more about the artist who painted this portrait, look up Nicolaes Eliaszoon Pickenoy.
