Portrait of a Woman from Southern Germany

The Portrait of a Woman from Southern Germany, executed around 1520, is an early 16th-century oil on panel painting currently held in the collection of the Mauritshuis. Although long associated with Hans Holbein the Younger (Augsburg 1497/1498 - 1543 London), current scholarship classifies the piece as formerly attributed to the master. The sitter, depicted against a dark, flat background, wears the distinctive attire and cap associated with women of the German middle or upper class during this period, particularly those from the southern regions like Augsburg or Nuremberg.

This work showcases the precise realism and meticulous technique characteristic of Northern Renaissance portraiture. The artist utilized the smooth wooden panel medium to achieve exacting detail in rendering the textures of the fur-trimmed jacket, the pleated fabric, and the delicate facial features of the subject. While the painting demonstrates a familiarity with the style popularized by Younger, stylistic differences prevent definitive confirmation of his authorship, suggesting instead a highly skilled contemporary active in the same flourishing artistic circles in the German territories. The piece reflects the transition from Late Gothic conventions toward the emerging Renaissance styles prevalent just prior to the Reformation.

The Portrait of a Woman from Southern Germany remains an important example of period clothing and social documentation from 1520. Housed permanently in the Mauritshuis, this piece contributes significantly to the collection’s survey of early 16th-century painting. Due to the age of the painting and its historical importance, the image is often considered part of the public domain, making high-quality photographic prints and digital representations readily available for scholarly and artistic study worldwide.