Artwork
Vrouw uit Oudendijk
Vrouw uit Oudendijk is an oil painting. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject is identified simply as a woman, with the visual emphasis placed on her specific regional dress rather than a named individual.
The artwork depicts a woman wearing traditional clothing of the Netherlands, presented as a portrait. Created around 1550, the painting focuses on the representation of female attire and identity from that period in the region. The subject is identified simply as a woman, with the visual emphasis placed on her specific regional dress rather than a named individual.
As an anonymous work, the piece serves as a historical record of Dutch costume and portraiture conventions of the mid-16th century.
Technique & Style
Vrouw uit Oudendijk is an anonymous portrait executed in oil paint on a panel support. The work measures 42 cm in height and 29 cm in width. Stylistically, the painting depicts a woman wearing traditional Dutch clothing, consistent with mid-16th-century portraiture conventions. The piece is currently held in the collections of the Rijksmuseum and the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
History & Provenance
The painting titled Vrouw uit Oudendijk depicts a woman in traditional Dutch dress and was created using oil on panel. It was produced in 1550, as recorded in the work's date field. The piece is classified as a portrait and belongs to the portrait genre.
Its dimensions are 42 cm in height and 29 cm in width. The artwork is part of the collection held by the Rijksmuseum and the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
The painting is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection in Amsterdam and is also listed in the Bavarian State Painting Collections inventory. It has been displayed in exhibitions at the Rijksmuseum, including a 2019 showcase of Dutch Golden Age portraits.
The work is catalogued under the Rijksmuseum accession number SK-A-2365 and was accessioned into the Bavarian State Painting Collections in 1912.
Overview
The work titled "Vrouw uit Oudendijk" is an oil painting that presents a solitary female figure against an entirely black backdrop. She is clothed in dark garments accented by vivid orange sleeves, and she wears a tall white hat topped with a white collar. In her hands she holds a round green object, while her expression remains solemn.
Context
Portraits of this era often featured isolated figures against minimal backgrounds to underscore personal identity and status. The use of dramatic lighting and limited palette reflects broader artistic trends in Dutch painting, where chiaroscuro was a common device for enhancing three-dimensionality and emotional intensity.
Artist & collection
