Portret van een zittende vrouw, de kin rustend op de linkerhand 1874 - 1925

Jan Veth made this sketch of a seated woman, resting her chin on her left hand, using pencil on paper. Veth was a Dutch artist working at the end of the 19th century, a time of significant social change and emerging ideas about the role of women in society. This drawing, with its intimate and informal pose, reflects a shift away from the rigid formality of earlier portraiture. The woman's contemplative posture, with her hand supporting her chin, suggests a sense of introspection. It invites us to consider her inner thoughts and emotions, hinting at the changing social expectations for women of the time. Was she a member of the Dutch upper class? Her dress and demeanor would suggest so. To fully understand this artwork, we can consult social histories of the Netherlands during this period, as well as biographies of Jan Veth, to better understand the social and institutional context in which it was made.