Portrait of a young Woman 1480s - 1490s

Here is a painting, "Portrait of a Young Woman," its maker unknown, rendered in oil with dimensions of 45 by 31 centimetres, and a depth of 11 centimetres. The young woman is positioned in a strict profile against a stark, black background. The muted palette of reds, creams, and browns gives a subdued tonality to the piece. Note how the planes of her face are softly modeled, while the contours are described with a delicate line. The anonymous painter's manipulation of light and shadow helps create a sense of volume, yet flattens to draw attention to the surface quality. The treatment of the young woman’s form destabilizes expectations, existing between two and three dimensions. The smooth textures of her skin and clothing contrast with the darker background. This visual strategy directs the gaze to the interplay between flatness and depth. The woman’s representation exists as both an image and a constructed object. This formal strategy emphasizes the painting’s artifice, prompting reflection on what it means to represent the human form.