Artwork

Laughing Girl Showing a Small Picture of a Nude Woman Seen from Behind

Laughing Girl Showing a Small Picture of a Nude Woman Seen from Behind is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1650, Laughing Girl Showing a Small Picture of a Nude Woman Seen from Behind is a work by 2100_person, now part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a woman dressed in a red hat with a feather and a matching red dress with white lace trim, smiling as she gazes at a small, held portrait of a nude female figure viewed from behind. The contrast between the clothed subject and the nude in the miniature suggests a nuanced exploration of perception, modesty, and the gaze.

Technique & Style

Executed against a dark background, the piece emphasizes the figure through color and composition, drawing attention to the interplay of the subject's expression and the image she holds. The artist's use of a small, framed nude within the larger work adds depth and layers of interpretation.

History & Provenance

Dating to around 1650, the work's early history and ownership before its acquisition by the Museum of Ethnography are not detailed in available information.

Context

Emerging in the mid-17th century, this work reflects the era's fascination with themes of observation and the representation of the female form, albeit with a unique, self-aware twist through the nested image device.