Portret van een onbekende vrouw, in ovaal 1653 - 1706

Godfried Schalcken made this portrait of an unknown woman with pen in brown, around 1660-1706. Note how the oval shape frames the sitter, creating an intimate, almost enclosed space. Schalcken masterfully uses hatching to build form and volume. The parallel lines create subtle tonal variations, suggesting the soft textures of skin and fabric. The hatching is densest in areas of shadow, such as beneath the chin and within the folds of the drapery, giving a sculptural quality to the figure. Schalcken's choice of brown ink, with its warm undertones, further enhances the sense of intimacy and accessibility. The controlled lines and delicate rendering convey both the physical appearance and the inner character of the sitter, inviting us to contemplate her identity and place within the social structures of her time. The oval frame, a formal device, heightens the sense of viewing a self-contained world.