This Portrait of a Young Woman was painted by an unidentified Netherlandish artist between 1530 and 1540, representing the refined portrait tradition of the Northern Renaissance. The small-scale painting reflects the influence of masters working in Antwerp and the Low Countries during this period. The intimate portrait presents a young woman against a dark background, her face turned three-quarters to the viewer with a direct, composed gaze. She wears the fashionable attire of a wealthy middle-class woman, including fine furs and jewelry indicating her social status. The artist employs the meticulous detail and smooth finish characteristic of Netherlandish painting, with careful attention to rendering of skin tones, fabrics, and ornamental details. Art historians have noted that while the pose suggests influence from Hans Holbein, the handling more closely resembles that of Joos van Cleve, who worked in England around 1530. Some scholars have associated the work with painters active in Antwerp, rejecting attribution to the Cologne School. The period saw numerous talented portraitists working in the Netherlands who produced refined likenesses for prosperous merchant and aristocratic patrons. The painting was executed in oil on wood panel, a technique perfected by early Netherlandish masters. The small dimensions of 10 1/2 x 8 1/4 inches were typical for personal portraits intended for private devotion or family collections. The meticulous layering of transparent oil glazes creates the luminous quality characteristic of Northern Renaissance painting.