Artwork
Portret van een meisje
Portret van een meisje is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Willem Witsen. It dates from 1903 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Portret van een meisje is an oil painting created in 1903 by Willem Witsen, a Dutch artist associated with Amsterdam Impressionism. The work is a portrait of a young girl, characterized by soft, side-lit facial features, dark hair, and a calm demeanor, set against a dark background with a contrasting red flower in her hair.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of the portrait is a serene young girl, whose calm expression and softly illuminated face are the focal points. The inclusion of a bright red flower in her hair adds a subtle, enigmatic element to her otherwise tranquil portrayal.
Technique & Style
Witsen employed chiaroscuro to achieve a three-dimensional effect on the girl's face, using strong contrasts of light and shadow. The brushwork is notably smooth, with warmer, more expressive strokes evident on the subject's collar, reflecting the influence of James McNeill Whistler.
History & Provenance
Completed in 1903, Portret van een meisje is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. While Witsen's broader oeuvre includes urban and rural scenes, this piece exemplifies his approach to portraiture.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Willem Arnoldus Witsen (13 August 1860 – 13 April 1923, Amsterdam) was a Dutch painter and photographer associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement.
Pakhuizen aan een Amsterdamse gracht op Uilenburg
Bridge over a canal in Venice
Landscape with fields
Winter Landscape
Andries van Wezel (1856–1922). Koopman te Antwerpen, legateerde in 1922 zijn schilderijenverzameling aan het Rijksmuseum
Landschap met de molen van Wijk bij Duurstede
Fluffy Flowers in a Jug