Artwork
Portrait of Machtelt Bas (?-1681)

Portrait of Machtelt Bas (?-1681) is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Unknown. It dates from 1651 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. This painting is an unfinished portrait of a woman, believed to be Machtelt Bas, who died in 1681.
About this work
Overview
This painting is an unfinished portrait of a woman, believed to be Machtelt Bas, who died in 1681. The work captures her standing before a balustrade, with a family crest visible in the upper corner.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is depicted wearing a dark dress and standing beside a stone railing adorned with roses. The portrait is thought to be paired with another work, suggesting the sitter was part of a couple, possibly married to Abraham de Visscher.
Technique & Style
The portrait is notable for its unfinished state, with certain features, such as one of the sitter's eyes, left in a sketch-like condition. This provides insight into the artist's working process, revealing the stages of creation typically concealed in finished works.
Artist & collection

















