Portrait of an old woman 1472

Hans Memling painted this oil on panel portrait of an unknown elderly woman in the 15th century. The woman’s clothing provides insights into the social conventions of the period. Her headdress, for example, signals a certain level of social status within the wealthy, merchant culture of Bruges, Belgium. The ring on her finger indicates she is married, reinforcing the importance of marriage and family in that era. Memling was known for his ability to depict the material wealth and status of his sitters. Portraits like this reflected the growing importance of the individual within society, and the ways in which paintings could celebrate the social and economic power of the sitter. By researching the history of costume and marriage traditions in 15th-century Bruges, we can better understand how social structures influenced the creation and reception of this image. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.