Portret van een vrouw, vermoedelijk Christiane Charlotte van Württemberg (1694-1729) 1710 - 1730

This miniature portrait, likely of Christiane Charlotte van Württemberg, was made anonymously in the 18th century. It's made of watercolor on ivory, a precious material at the time. This intimate art form demanded incredible skill. The artist needed a steady hand and knowledge of how to apply thin washes of color to build up form and capture the sitter's likeness. This meticulous, time-consuming labor speaks to the broader social context of the era: a world of aristocratic patronage, where luxury goods and personalized objects like this were symbols of status and wealth. The way the gold frame cradles the delicate painting, making it a wearable piece of jewelry, underlines this value. By looking closely at the materials and processes used to create this piece, we can move beyond simply seeing a pretty face and appreciate the complex interplay of artistry, labor, and social meaning that it embodies. It invites us to consider the miniature portrait as more than just decoration.