Portrait of a Woman

Rembrandt's Portrait of a Woman from 1633 dates from his early Amsterdam period, when he was the most fashionable portrait painter in the city and commanding premium prices from its prosperous merchant class. In 1633, he was newly arrived from Leiden, had just met Saskia van Uylenburgh (whom he would marry the following year), and was at the height of his fashionable success. His early Amsterdam portraits show an elegant refinement that would gradually give way to his deeper, more psychologically concentrated late style. The woman's precise dress, carefully rendered jewelry, and composed expression reflect the self-presentation conventions of the Amsterdam merchant elite.

Rembrandt's early portrait technique is more precisely detailed than his later work, with careful attention to the elaborate ruff and costume. The face is modeled with warm, luminous flesh tones and sharp highlights in the eyes that create an impression of animated life. The dark background concentrates attention on the illuminated figure.