Portrait of a Young Woman; verso: Sketch of a Young Woman with her Hands Resting on a Table 1800 - 1847

Georg Friedrich Kersting made this double-sided drawing, "Portrait of a Young Woman," using graphite on paper. Completed in Germany during the early 19th century, it is reminiscent of the Biedermeier era, a period defined by its focus on domesticity and the private sphere following the Napoleonic Wars. The image is a portrait of an unknown woman, her gaze fixed to the left. Her hair is styled in a neat bun, and she wears a simple dress with a shawl draped around her shoulders. The artist’s choice of such a common subject and Kersting’s rendering of the sitter in an idealized, yet accessible manner, reflected the values of the middle class at the time. The Biedermeier movement rejected the grandeur of the aristocracy, seeking comfort and contentment within the home and family. For art historians, understanding works like this requires delving into the material culture of the time. By examining fashion plates, domestic advice manuals, and literature, we can gain a better insight into the social and cultural context that shaped both the artwork and its audience.