Portrait of a Moravian Woman 1570 - 1611

Pieter Pietersz the Younger painted this portrait of a Moravian woman using oil on panel. The smooth surface almost makes it look like enamel. What grabs my attention is the intense detail of her elaborate gown. It speaks volumes about the resources required for such a garment, which would have involved the contributions of numerous spinners, weavers, dyers, and tailors. The red velvet trim, the intricate pattern work, and even the tiny bows running down the front all point to specialized labor. The portrait is not just an image, but a record of making and a signal of social class. It also subtly challenges our notions of craft versus fine art. The meticulousness we see here, so skillfully deployed, might easily have been directed to other ends – tapestry, furniture, jewelry. In the end, the value we place on an artwork depends on the materials, the labor, and the context that defines it.