Porträt Einer 34 Jährigen Frau 1517

Hans Holbein the Elder painted this portrait of a 34-year-old woman in the early 16th century, likely in Augsburg, Germany. The woman's clothing and headdress speak volumes about the social conventions of the time. Her high-necked dress and covered hair signal modesty and virtue, ideals prized in women. The quality of her garments, evidenced in the rich colors and intricate detailing, suggest she belongs to a prosperous merchant or patrician family. Holbein, working in a city governed by a merchant oligarchy, reflects in his art the values of his patrons. These types of portraits served to reinforce social hierarchies and promote the status of the sitters. As historians, our understanding of this image is enriched through archival research, by examining clothing inventories and sumptuary laws. Holbein's portrait is a window into the world of early 16th-century Augsburg, offering insights into its social structures and cultural values.