The artwork titled “Presumed Portrait of the Artist’s Wife” is attributed to the renowned German artist Hans Holbein the Younger and is believed to have been created around the year 1517. This portrait, crafted with tempera on wood, is a quintessential example of the Northern Renaissance period and measures 34 by 45 centimeters. The genre of the artwork is portraiture, which was a popular form of representation during the Renaissance, focusing on the depiction of an individual’s appearance and personality.
The artwork presents the figure of a woman, portrayed in a three-quarter view against a flat, unadorned background which enhances her presence. She wears a traditional head covering which, alongside her modest gown, suggests the fashion of the time, characterized by simple yet elegant lines. The head covering envelopes her hair completely, showing the period’s emphasis on modesty. Her facial expression is serene and contemplative, lending the portrait a certain gravity and poise. The woman’s hands are gently folded across her waist, with one atop the other, drawing attention to her delicate fingers and the fine details of her clothing.
Characterized by a meticulous attention to detail, typical of Holbein’s style, the textures and fabrics are rendered with precision. The dark tones of her attire contrast against the pale tone of her skin. The subtle play of light and shadow in the portrait brings a three-dimensional quality to her figure, demonstrating Holbein’s mastery of the medium. Notably, the portrait conveys an intimate likeness that suggests the artist’s personal connection to the sitter, which is further alluded to by the title of the work.
