Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1885 - 1931

This is Frederika Henriëtte Broeksmit's "Portret van een onbekende vrouw," an etching made at some point in her career. The entire image exists in a soft, warm sepia tone, with delicate lines defining the woman's profile. What strikes me is the artist's hand in this work. Look at the way the lines vary in thickness and density. Around the hair and the shadow behind the head, the etching becomes a flurry of activity, creating depth and volume. Then, notice the subtle shading of the face and neck, achieved through the careful layering of lines. It's almost like the artist is caressing the paper, coaxing the image into existence through touch and pressure. The lines around the shoulders and chest are light and airy, giving the body form, but without closure, so the woman is almost emerging from the ground. Broeksmit may have been looking at the etchings of Whistler, or maybe even some of the Impressionists. There's a similar interest in capturing a fleeting moment, an impression of a person rather than a detailed likeness. And as with any good portrait, the ambiguity invites us to project our own stories and emotions onto the unknown woman.