Netherlands / c. 1665
Portrait of a Woman
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Portrait of a Woman as painting (Netherlands · c. 1665).
The pair to this painting (in the National Gallery, London), depicts a man in equally fashionable dress.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as oil on canvas and credits Gerard ter Borch (Dutch, 1617–1681).
The museum's collection notes: Every detail of his subject’s elaborate costume is skillfully recorded: glittering jewels, filmy lace, knots of ribbons, heavy black silk, and shimmering white satin. The ability to recreate satin’s luster was Gerard ter Borch’s particular trademark: he used fine flicks and sweeps of the brush, occasionally adding and wiping away tiny bits of paint to make the white fabric appear to shine. Ter Borch offset the profusion of costume detail by deliberately isolating the figure within a spare setting, allowing us to appreciate the woman’s cool composure. Although her identity is not known, she was undoubtedly a member of the wealthy Dutch elite.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtPortrait of a WomanOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.