Portrait of an Old Woman
Medium
Oil on wood
Dimensions
28 x 24 in. (71.1 x 61 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
29.100.2
Tags
About this artwork
This compelling portrait exemplifies the sophisticated character studies produced during the Dutch Golden Age, though its attribution history reveals the complexities of connoisseurship. Currently attributed to the "Style of Jacob Backer," this oil on wood painting enjoyed a remarkable earlier provenance, having been celebrated as a Rembrandt when it resided in the prestigious Kann and Havemeyer collections. The work remained included in Rembrandt catalogues through 1931, testament to its except...
Art Historical Context
This evocative *Portrait of an Old Woman attributed to the style of Jacob Backer (8/09–1651), captures the essence of Dutch Golden Age portraiture from the to mid-17th century Backer, a prominent Amsterdam painter influenced by Rembrandt, specialized in character studies that emphasized psychological depth over idealization. Painted in oil on wood—a medium favored for its smooth surface and portability—this intimate 28 x 24-inch work exemplifies the period's focus on everyday humanity, particularly from 1625–1649, when artists masterfully rendered individual likenesses. The painting's power l...