Who painted Study of an Old Woman with a Huckle and a Shawl?

Study of an Old Woman with a Huckle and a Shawl was painted by Johan Vilhelm Gertner in 1854.

Where can I see Study of an Old Woman with a Huckle and a Shawl?

Study of an Old Woman with a Huckle and a Shawl is held by Nationalmuseum.

What movement is Study of an Old Woman with a Huckle and a Shawl?

Study of an Old Woman with a Huckle and a Shawl is associated with Biedermeier.

Artwork

Study of an Old Woman with a Huckle and a Shawl

Johan Vilhelm Gertner , 1854

Study of an Old Woman with a Huckle and a Shawl is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Johan Vilhelm Gertner. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the Nationalmuseum.

About this work

Overview

Johan Vilhelm Gertner’s 1854 oil painting, *Study of an Old Woman with a Huckle and a Shawl*, presents a solitary figure rendered in a restrained palette. The work belongs to the portrait genre and reflects the Biedermeier interest in modest, everyday subjects. It is part of the Nationalmuseum’s collection in Stockholm.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on an elderly woman whose down‑cast gaze and furrowed brows convey a quiet seriousness. Dressed in a dark dress, a brown shawl edged with gold, and a light headscarf, she appears as a study of age and domestic presence, inviting contemplation of the passage of time and the dignity of ordinary life.

Technique & Style

Gertner employs chiaroscuro to model the woman’s face, using strong contrasts between the dark background and illuminated skin to create depth. The brushwork is meticulous, capturing fine details such as the texture of the shawl and the subtle rosiness of the cheeks, reflecting the realist influence of French painting and early photographic observation.

History & Provenance

A pupil of Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, Gertner worked during Denmark’s late Golden Age, a period noted for its precise portraiture. After its creation, the painting entered the holdings of the Nationalmuseum, where it remains on display as an example of mid‑nineteenth‑century Danish Biedermeier art.