Anna Leafing Through a Portfolio of Prints by Laura Theresa Alma-Tadema

Anna Leafing Through a Portfolio of Prints 1874

pasteup

painted

possibly oil pastel

oil painting

street graffiti

spray can art

underpainting

pastel chalk drawing

painting painterly

watercolor

"Anna Leafing Through a Portfolio of Prints" (1874) by Laura Theresa Alma-Tadema, depicts a young girl named Anna engrossed in a portfolio of prints. The composition is intimate, focusing on Anna's curious gaze as she examines a print, with other prints and a framed artwork visible in the background. The painting, currently housed at the Rijksmuseum, exemplifies Alma-Tadema's meticulous attention to detail and her talent for capturing moments of quiet contemplation. This small-scale work, measuring just 11.3 cm in height and 31.4 cm in width, is a testament to Alma-Tadema's mastery of genre painting and her enduring fascination with the domestic sphere.

Comments

rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

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Anna, the painter’s seven-year-old stepdaughter, holds up a print with both hands. She has to peer around the sheet; that is how large it is, or conversely just how small Anna is. The Alma-Tadema family filled their house with portraits of themselves. Possibly this small painting was among them. It affords the viewer an intimate glimpse into the child’s world while simultaneously demonstrating a fondness for graphic art.