Portrait Of A Woman

Rembrandt van Rijn painted this portrait in 1662, showing an elderly woman in black attire. By age 25, Rembrandt had become Amsterdam's most successful portrait painter, creating vivid likenesses that expressed personality and soul. Smooth, fluid brushstrokes recreate soft skin texture.

Thicker, textured strokes draw attention to the lace collar and gold jewelry, details sure to please a wealthy client. The demand for Rembrandt portraits meant he often called upon assistants to help complete works, probably including this one. Now at the Cleveland Museum of Art.