Elizabeth Sophia Augusta Graff, born Sulzer (1753-1812) and her Daughter Caroline Susanne (1781-1828)

Graff employs a subdued chiaroscuro, allowing a narrow band of light to illuminate the faces and hands while the background recedes into darkness. The careful rendering of fabric texture and the soft modeling of curls demonstrate his meticulous approach to surface detail, characteristic of late Rococo portraiture that balances elegance with realism.

Anton Graff (1736–1813), a Swiss artist noted for his portraits of cultural figures, painted this work during a prolific period of his career. He also instructed younger painters, including Philipp Otto Runge. The painting entered the Gemäldegalerie Berlin’s holdings, where it remains on display as a representative example of Graff’s late eighteenth‑century oeuvre.