Artwork
Portrait of a young woman

Portrait of a young woman is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Suze Robertson. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The modest scale and intimate framing focus attention on the subject’s individuality, suggesting a personal portrait rather than a commissioned likeness.
The painting depicts a solitary woman presented in three-quarter view, her gaze directed slightly away from the viewer. Robertson’s restrained palette and attentive rendering emphasize the sitter’s quiet introspection rather than overt emotion, aligning with late nineteenth-century Dutch portrait conventions that favored psychological presence over narrative incident. The modest scale and intimate framing focus attention on the subject’s individuality, suggesting a personal portrait rather than a commissioned likeness.
In this context, the work can be read as a study of modern subjectivity, where inner life is conveyed through understated gesture and subdued color.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1898, this portrait by Suze Robertson is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 32.3 cm in height and 26.2 cm in width. Classified as a portrait genre piece, the composition depicts a single female subject.
The application of oil paint on a woven canvas support represents the standard materials utilized by the artist for this specific creation.
History & Provenance
The oil painting titled Portrait of a young woman was created by the Dutch artist Suze Robertson in 1898. Executed on canvas, the work measures 32.3 cm in height and 26.2 cm in width. The piece is currently held within the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is cataloged as a portrait depicting a woman.
No further details regarding the specific commission, original owner, or the precise chain of custody prior to its museum acquisition are provided in the available records.
Overview
Created in 1900 by Dutch painter Suze Robertson, this oil portrait presents a young woman in profile, her gaze directed downward. The composition is dominated by a dark, almost monochrome background that isolates the figure, allowing the subtle coloration of her skin and the texture of her hair to become the focal point. The work belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s permanent collection.
Context
Suze Robertson was a member of the Amsterdamse Joffers, a group of female artists active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who pursued a modern approach within a traditionally conservative art scene. This portrait exemplifies the post‑impressionist tendencies of the period, merging expressive brushwork with a restrained color scheme to convey personal mood over decorative detail.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Suze Robertson (17 December 1855 – 18 October 1922) was a Dutch painter. She belonged to a group of artists known as the Amsterdamse Joffers.


















