Where can I see Vrouwenportret?

Vrouwenportret is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Vrouwenportret?

Vrouwenportret is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Vrouwenportret

Vrouwenportret is an oil painting. It dates from 1694 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is an oil painting depicting a solitary woman positioned before a deep, shadowy backdrop.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Vrouwenportret is a small-format oil portrait of a woman, painted in 1687.

Vrouwenportret is a small-format oil portrait of a woman, painted in 1687. As its title indicates, the work is a women's portrait, and the subject is identified iconographically simply as a woman, with no further narrative attributes, allegorical devices, or symbolic objects documented in the available records.

The painting's meaning is therefore tied to its function as a likeness rather than to any emblematic programme: it presents the sitter as an individual through the conventions of late seventeenth-century portraiture, executed on a copper support at miniature scale (7.6 by 5.9 cm). Without additional attributes such as inscriptions, emblems, or identifying accessories recorded in the sources, the work represents the sitter herself rather than a personified virtue, historical figure, or allegorical concept.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1687, this small-scale portrait depicts a woman using oil paint applied to a copper support. The work measures 7.6 cm in height and 5.9 cm in width, indicating a miniature format typical for personal devotional objects or intimate keepsakes of the late seventeenth century. The combination of oil medium with a rigid copper panel allows for fine detail and a smooth surface finish, characteristics often sought in portraiture of this period.

As an anonymous work held by the Rijksmuseum, the piece exemplifies the technical precision achievable on metal supports, though specific details regarding its current condition or handling history are not documented in the available records.

History & Provenance

The painting resides in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and is cataloged under the accession number SK-A-2558. It was created in 1687 on a copper support using oil paint, measuring 7.6 centimeters in height by 5.9 centimeters in width. The work has been part of the museum’s exhibition program, appearing in displays focused on Dutch Golden Age portraiture and women in art.

Overview

The work is an oil painting depicting a solitary woman positioned before a deep, shadowy backdrop. She is dressed in a black gown with a modestly low neckline, complemented by a pearl necklace and matching earrings. Her dark hair is gathered away from her face, and she looks straight at the viewer, creating an intimate visual encounter.