Portret van een vrouw 1842 - 1897

This is Christiaan Lodewijk van Kesteren’s diminutive ‘Portret van een vrouw’, made with etching. The portrait engages us through the contrast of precise linework against softer tonal gradations. Notice how the etcher's careful modulation of line brings forth the woman’s form, creating a delicate balance between light and shadow that animates her presence on the page. In its form and design, the artwork speaks to the tradition of portraiture. The use of etching, with its emphasis on line, allows for a remarkable level of detail, yet also sets up an inherent tension between precision and the subtleties of human expression. The woman, framed by the smooth gradient, appears caught in a moment of quiet reflection, with a gaze that invites prolonged contemplation. Consider how the etching's formal qualities, and the artist's emphasis on line and tone, communicate not just physical likeness but an interiority that transcends time. This elevates the portrait from simple likeness to a site of interpretive richness.