Artwork
Portret van een jonge vrouw
Portret van een jonge vrouw is an ivory painting. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is a small portrait executed on a sheet of ivory, depicting a young woman whose gaze is turned slightly to her right.
About this work
Overview
The work is a small portrait executed on a sheet of ivory, depicting a young woman whose gaze is turned slightly to her right. Her expression is neutral, and she is presented against a mottled grey‑brown background that recedes behind her figure.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter wears her dark hair in an up‑do, with a few loose strands framing her face, and a floral wreath rests atop her head, adding a decorative element. A leopard‑print shawl is draped over her left shoulder, and she wears dangling earrings, suggesting a fashionably dressed individual of some standing.
Technique & Style
The artist employs chiaroscuro, contrasting illuminated areas on the face with deeper shadows on the surrounding drapery and background, thereby modeling the features in three dimensions. The delicate rendering of the ivory surface allows fine detail in the hair, wreath, and textile patterns.
History & Provenance
The portrait is identified as a painting on ivory, a medium historically used for miniature works and intimate portraiture. No further information on its creation date, artist, or ownership history is provided in the source material.
Context
Portraits on ivory were common in the 18th and 19th centuries for personal keepsakes, often commissioned by members of the bourgeoisie. The inclusion of exotic motifs such as a leopard‑print shawl reflects contemporary tastes for Orientalist and animal‑print fashions.
Artist & collection
