Een jonge vrouw

About this artwork

buitenmaat: diepte 7,5 cm (drager incl. SK-L-1724)

Art Historical Context

**Een jonge vrouw (A Young Woman)** *August Allebé, 3* *Oil on panel, 35.5 × 23.5 cm (panel); depth 7.5 cm (including support)* *Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam* Step into the intimate world of August Allebé *Een jonge vrouw*, delicate oil-on-panel portrait 1863. This-scale work, measuring just 35.5 by 23.5 cm, captures quiet elegance of its subject against a softly lit background. Painted on panel—a favored medium for 19th-century Dutch artists seeking smooth surfaces for precise brushwork—Allebé's piece exemplifies the portability and detail possible in private cabinet paintings. Allebé (1838–1926), a leading figure in Dutch art, later became director of the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam, shaping generations of painters. Active during the mid-19th century, when Realism was emerging alongside the Hague School's atmospheric landscapes, this portrait reflects his skill in everyday genre scenes and character studies. The modest dimensions and meticulous oil technique suggest it was crafted for personal appreciation, highlighting the era's fascination with intimate human moments amid rapid industrialization. Housed in the prestigious Rijksmuseum, *Een jonge vrouw* offers a glimpse into 1860s Dutch bourgeois life, inviting visitors to ponder the young woman's story through Allebé's observant eye. A testament to technical finesse, it reminds us how small works can hold profound emotional depth.