Portret van een onbekende vrouw, mogelijk Pauwlina Linnig 1852 - 1889

Willem Linnig the Younger created this etching of an unknown woman, possibly Pauwlina Linnig. The details in the jewelry and lacy trim of her dress situate her within a particular class and time. The gaze of the subject holds a reflective quality; it invites speculation about the sitter’s life and the relationships between artist and muse. Linnig was part of a family of artists in 19th-century Belgium, a time of burgeoning industrialization and social change. As such, the portrait provides insight into the social stratification of the era. The woman's identity remains a mystery, but the portrait itself reflects the era's evolving notions of femininity and representation. In its focus on this woman, this small, yet evocative portrait, offers a window into the intimate world of 19th-century Antwerp, inviting us to reflect on the lives and stories of those often overlooked by history.