Portret van een vrouw 1800 - 1900

This is Coba Steenhoff’s pencil drawing, "Portrait of a Woman." The subtlety of the medium invites us to consider the quiet, interior life of the sitter. In an era when women artists were gaining more visibility, though still fighting for recognition, Steenhoff engages in a nuanced exploration of female identity. The choice of a subdued palette and soft lines suggests an intimate, personal connection between the artist and her subject. We might consider how Steenhoff navigates the male-dominated art world while capturing the essence of womanhood through her own lens. What does it mean to portray a woman with such understated grace during a time of evolving gender roles? The artwork gently provokes us to reflect on the complexities of womanhood and the artistic expression of female identity.