Dameportræt, kaldet frøken Sneedorf 1741 - 1776

Peder Als painted this portrait of Miss Sneedorf using oil on canvas sometime in the 18th century. Als was a part of the artistic and intellectual milieu that was forming in Copenhagen during the Enlightenment. Here, Miss Sneedorf is presented with the pale skin and delicate features that were considered marks of beauty and status for women of the European upper class. The soft lighting and oval frame evoke a sense of intimacy, but it’s also carefully constructed. Think about how the artist uses her hat to cast a shadow on her face, creating an atmosphere of demureness and mystery. The painting offers a glimpse into the visual culture of the time, while subtly revealing the gendered expectations that shaped women’s identities. It invites us to consider how individuals navigated and negotiated these norms, leaving their own imprint on the canvas of history.