This early 20th-century oil painting by Dutch artist Jelle Troelstra (1891-1979) depicts a seated woman wearing a floral top and dark grey dress.
With eyes closed and hands held upon her lap, she’s decidedly restful. Rendered in a swirly abundance of deft marks, enlivened with red highlights. Her identity is unknown but the artist has cleverly suggested her age via some pinching of the skin. Her expression is mesmerising.
Troelstra was an accomplished painter who was shown at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam and the Rijksmuseum. This is a particularly good example of his work.
Signed/dated lower right and held within a later frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 14½” x 18½” / 37cm x 47cm
Year of creation: 1916
Labels & Inscriptions: Title label on reverse.
Provenance: Private collection, Denmark.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.
Our reference: BRV1578
Dutch artist Jelle Troelstra (1891-1979) was primarily known for his progressive landscapes and portraits but he was also an accomplished musician. He trained under Willy van Schoonhoven van Beurden and Wim Schuhmacher. He’s represented in numerous public collections and his works were shown at the Rijksmuseum in 1939.
Learn more about Jelle Troelstra in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
