Who painted Portraits of a Couple: Female portrait?

Portraits of a Couple: Female portrait was painted by Jan Joest in 1516.

Where can I see Portraits of a Couple: Female portrait?

Portraits of a Couple: Female portrait is held by Germanisches Nationalmuseum.

What movement is Portraits of a Couple: Female portrait?

Portraits of a Couple: Female portrait is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Portraits of a Couple: Female portrait

Jan Joest , 1516

Portraits of a Couple: Female portrait is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Jan Joest. It dates from 1516 and is held in the collection of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Portraits of a Couple: Female portrait is a 1516 oil painting by Jan Joest, a Dutch artist associated with Kalkar or Wesel, representing the Northern Renaissance.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a woman with a neutral expression, characterized by a pale face, dark eyebrows, and attire including a white headscarf and dark collar. Her hands, slightly spread, rest on a dark, possibly table-like object.

Technique & Style

Joest employed a simple black background to emphasize the subject's face, leveraging chiaroscuro effects. The white fabric of her headscarf appears luminous against the dark, highlighting the artist's use of light and shadow for dramatic effect.

History & Provenance

Created in 1516, the work is part of the Alte Pinakothek's collection.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jan Joest

Jan Joest, also known as Jan Joest van Kalkar or Jan Joest van Calcar (between 1450 and 1460 – 1519), was a Dutch painter from either Kalkar or Wesel (both now in Germany), known for his religious paintings.