Where can I see Portrait of a woman?

Portrait of a woman is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of a woman?

Portrait of a woman is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Portrait of a woman

Portrait of a woman is an oil painting. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is an oil painting portraying a woman with a solemn demeanor.

About this work

Technique & Style

The work is an oil painting on wooden panel, measuring 13 cm by 10 cm, created in the mid‑17th century in the Northern Low Countries.

The work is an oil painting on wooden panel, measuring 13 cm by 10 cm, created in the mid‑17th century in the Northern Low Countries. Executed in a realistic yet restrained manner, it depicts an anonymous woman in conventional portraiture, reflecting the stylistic norms of Dutch portrait painting of the period. The surface shows typical handling for oil on panel, with a smooth finish and no visible signs of deterioration.

Formal qualities include a muted palette, careful modeling of facial features, and a composition that emphasizes the sitter’s presence through subtle chiaroscuro.

History & Provenance

Created in 1645 in the Northern Low Countries, this anonymous oil painting on panel depicts a woman. The work was originally owned by Jacob de Witte van Citters before entering the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is currently held under the inventory number SK-A-2080. The piece measures 13 cm in height and 10 cm in width.

The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is cataloged under the inventory number SK-A-2080. Created in 1645, the work was produced in the Northern Low Countries. Historical records indicate that the panel was once owned by Jacob de Witte van Citters.

While the artwork is part of the museum's permanent holdings, the provided sources do not list specific public exhibitions or loan history for this piece.

Overview

The work is an oil painting portraying a woman with a solemn demeanor. She is dressed in a plain white collar that spreads outward, a dark cap covering her hair, and a modest necklace. The composition is set against an unadorned dark background, which isolates the figure and emphasizes her facial features.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter’s serious expression and restrained attire suggest a focus on inner character rather than external status. The simplicity of the clothing and the absence of elaborate accessories point toward a possible portrait of a private individual, perhaps intended to convey modesty or personal virtue.

Context

The work reflects a tradition of portraiture that prioritizes psychological presence over decorative detail, common in periods when artists sought to capture the sitter’s inner life through controlled lighting and restrained composition.

Legacy

Without further data on exhibition history or critical reception, the painting’s influence on subsequent art or its role within a larger oeuvre cannot be assessed from the available facts.