Portret van een jonge vrouw 1770 - 1828

Johannes Körnlein rendered this study of a young woman in sanguine, a drawing medium cherished for its warm, blood-like tones. Note the positioning of the head in profile, eyes cast down in solemn reflection, a pose that echoes across centuries from ancient Roman portraiture to Renaissance devotional art. The clasped hands, often seen in prayer, suggest piety or introspection. We find variations of this motif in countless depictions of saints and Madonnas, yet here, stripped of overt religious symbols, the gesture speaks more broadly of inner contemplation. Consider the psychological weight of such a posture. The averted gaze hints at a vulnerability, a turning inward that invites our empathetic gaze. It is an invitation into her emotional landscape, prompting a connection that transcends time, a dance between the observer and the observed that resonates within our collective memory. The echoes of these gestures remind us of art’s enduring power.