Portret van Adélaïde-Gillette Dufrénoy 1795 - 1825

This is an undated portrait of Adélaïde-Gillette Dufrénoy made by an anonymous artist and held at the Rijksmuseum. The print, rendered in delicate lines and shades of grey, captures its subject within a precisely defined oval frame. The composition immediately draws our attention to the formal arrangement of shapes and textures that construct the portrait. Notice how the artist has meticulously layered lines to give form to the sitter’s features, her intricate lace bonnet, and the soft fabric of her dress. The texture is achieved through contrasting areas of light and shadow that define the volumes and spaces within the oval. The sitter’s gaze is directed slightly off-center, creating a sense of movement and life within the static composition. This use of light and shadow enhances the realistic rendering of the subject, while the calculated lines and geometric shapes of the oval framing device emphasize the artificiality of the image. It offers us a glimpse into how portraiture has often functioned as both a representation and an aesthetic object. The print then becomes a meditation on how lines and forms create meaning and perception.