Oude Javaanse vrouw Possibly 1779 - 1788

This delicate pencil sketch, "Oude Javaanse vrouw," depicts a Javanese woman in profile, likely created by Dutch artist Jan Brandes between 1779 and 1788. The simplicity of the lines and the focus on the subject's features, particularly her distinctive headdress, highlight Brandes' skill in capturing the essence of his subject. This piece offers a glimpse into the artist's fascination with the people and cultures he encountered during his time in the Dutch East Indies. The sketch embodies the 18th century European artistic interest in ethnographic portraiture, allowing us to observe the beauty of cultural diversity in its raw form.