The artwork in question is titled “Portrait of a Forty Year Old Woman with Folded Hands,” crafted by the esteemed artist Frans Hals in 1638. This Baroque oil painting on canvas measures 98 by 70 centimeters. The portrait genre artwork resides in the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, Sweden.
The artwork depicts a middle-aged woman, captured with hands elegantly folded, exuding a sense of dignity and poise. The intricate detail of her attire, including a finely pleated ruff collar and delicately embroidered sleeves, showcases Frans Hals’ mastery in rendering textures and fabrics. The nuanced use of light and shadow imparts a lifelike quality to her visage and hands, capturing a moment of serene contemplation. The monochromatic background and oval frame emphasize the subject, drawing the viewer’s focus squarely onto her composed and placid expression. Through his deft brushwork, Hals has immortalized a quietly powerful presence, emblematic of the Baroque period’s emphasis on realism and depth in portraiture.
