Portrait of a Woman, possibly Clara Fourment (1593-1643)

Portrait of a Woman, possibly Clara Fourment (1593-1643) by Peter Paul Rubens (Siegen 1577 - 1640 Antwerp) is an expressive oil painting on panel executed around 1630. While the identity of the sitter is tentatively proposed as Clara Fourment, the elder sister of Rubens’s second wife, Helena Fourment, this specific work stands as an exemplary representation of the Baroque master’s mature portrait style.

This piece exemplifies the dramatic energy and rich color palette characteristic of Rubens's Antwerp studio during the 1630s. The quick, confident brushstrokes applied to the small wooden panel capture the woman's face with psychological depth and vitality. Rubens uses light masterfully, employing a limited yet effective contrast to highlight the texture of the skin and the subtle details of her simple dark clothing, emphasizing her sober but alert expression. The energetic technique suggests the work may have been painted quickly, perhaps as an intimate study or modello.

The subject matter, focusing intensely on the individual's face without external distraction, showcases the shift toward emotional realism prevalent in northern European Baroque portraiture. As a significant painting from the artist’s later period, the work now resides in the esteemed collection of the Mauritshuis in The Hague. Given the historical importance of Rubens's massive output, images of Portrait of a Woman, possibly Clara Fourment (1593-1643) are frequently made available through public domain archives, allowing researchers and enthusiasts access to high-quality prints and reproductions for continued study.