Portret van een jonge vrouw c. 1886 - 1925

Ernest Haskell made this pencil drawing, "Portret van een jonge vrouw," sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It presents a young woman in a contemplative pose, her gaze directed slightly downward. Haskell worked as an illustrator for magazines, a field that saw increased demand for images of women during this period. The availability of such images coincided with the gradual expansion of women's social roles and the rise of the "New Woman". The delicate rendering of the woman’s features, the soft play of light and shadow, and the intimate scale all contributed to a sense of idealized femininity. To fully understand this work, we must consider the institutional and social context in which it was produced. Examining periodicals, fashion plates, and other visual materials from the time might give us some leads. Through historical research, we can better understand the dialogue between art and the evolving role of women.