Portrait of an Elegant Lady 1750 - 1770

Frans van der Mijn's "Portrait of an Elegant Lady," now at the Metropolitan Museum, presents a delicate study in charcoal, chalk, and stumping. The gray monochrome immediately establishes a mood of quiet introspection. Observe how van der Mijn uses soft gradations of tone to model the woman's face and costume. The subtle play of light and shadow across her features creates a sense of volume and depth, while the stumping technique gives a soft focus. The lady’s elegant attire, including a wide-brimmed hat, and her composed demeanor are products of 18th century aristocratic class and visual codes. Notice too how the artist uses line to define the contours of her face and clothing, yet avoids any harshness. Van der Mijn softens these lines through shading, creating a sense of graceful ease. This embrace of softness, in both line and tone, invites us to consider how van der Mijn uses these techniques not merely to represent, but to embody a particular ideal of feminine elegance. This is a concept that is far from fixed, however, and one that continues to shift and evolve.