Artwork
Portrait of a Woman holding a Fan
Portrait of a Woman holding a Fan is an oil painting by Jacob Gerritsz Cuyp. It dates from 1649 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków.
About this work
Overview
Jacob Gerritsz Cuyp, a Dutch painter active in the first half of the seventeenth century, completed the oil work Portrait of a Woman holding a Fan in 1649. The canvas, now part of the National Museum in Kraków, presents a single female sitter rendered against a subdued, dark background, allowing the figure to dominate the visual field.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a young woman with long dark hair, dressed in a black gown, white collar, and a modest black hat. She holds a hand‑fan in her right hand while her left hand rests lightly on her lap, and a pearl necklace encircles her neck. Her gaze turns to the right, her expression neutral, suggesting a poised, perhaps contemplative, presence rather than a narrative scene.
Technique & Style
Cuyp employs chiaroscuro to model the figure, using strong contrasts between illuminated flesh tones and the deep, muted backdrop. The soft rendering of the skin and the delicate handling of the fan and pearls demonstrate his skill in oil paint, while the overall composition reflects the restrained elegance typical of Dutch portraiture of the period.
History & Provenance
Born in Dordrecht in 1594, Cuyp initially painted still lifes and interior scenes before turning to portraiture and pastoral landscapes. The 1649 portrait entered the collection of the National Museum in Kraków, where it remains on display, providing a representative example of the artist’s later portrait work.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob Gerritszoon Cuyp or Cuijp (1594–1652) was a portrait and landscape painter, best known for his portraits.
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