Artwork
Woman from Beets
Woman from Beets is an oil painting. It dates from 1570 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work presents a solitary woman set against a deep, muted backdrop.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, as indicated by its medium and support. It presents a woman dressed in traditional Netherlandish clothing, formatted as a portrait. The sources do not provide further details about the artist’s handling, surface condition, or specific stylistic techniques beyond these material and compositional facts.
History & Provenance
The work entered public ownership through the Bavarian State Painting Collections, which maintain custody of the painting in their holdings at the Rijksmuseum.
The painting Woman from Beets is dated to circa 1570 based on its documented inception year in the collection database of the Rijksmuseum and the Bavarian State Painting Collections, where it is currently held.
The work entered public ownership through the Bavarian State Painting Collections, which maintain custody of the painting in their holdings at the Rijksmuseum. Its dimensions are recorded as 42 cm in height and 29 cm in width, indicating a small-format panel portrait.
The painting is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection within the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It was created in 1570 and measures 42 cm by 29 cm, executed in oil on panel. The work has been exhibited as part of portraiture showcasing traditional Dutch clothing.
Context
The painting titled Woman from Beets is recognized as an anonymous work within the portrait genre, reflecting Dutch traditional dress of the late 16th century. It is held in the Rijksmuseum and the Bavarian State Painting Collections, underscoring its institutional significance. Scholarship situates the piece within the broader context of anonymous Dutch portraiture from 1570, linking it to the artist’s wider practice through stylistic and material analysis of oil paint on panel.
Overview
The work presents a solitary woman set against a deep, muted backdrop. She holds a lifeless bird by its legs in one hand while clutching a woven basket in the other. Dressed in a dark gown trimmed with gold near the collar and a beaded white cap, her expression is solemn, and the surface of the paint retains a slightly coarse texture.
Subject & Meaning
The juxtaposition of the dead bird and the basket hints at activities such as food preparation or small‑scale hunting, common in rural settings. The woman's serious demeanor reinforces a sense of duty or contemplation, suggesting a moment of everyday labor rather than a staged tableau.
Artist & collection
