A Young Woman Seated in an Arm Chair

This drawing depicts a seated young woman, perhaps Hendrickje Stoffels, the artist's latest mistress, in a pensive and introspective mood, characteristic of many of Rembrandt's finest works of the 1650s. She holds what appears to be a scroll in her left hand which together with the biblical costume suggests that the work may have been intended as a study for a biblical subject. The work is executed with a reed pen. Bold, angular strokes delineate the figure and chair in a painterly manner much favoured by the artist during this period. The work was previously catalogued as attributed to Rembrandt, dated 1662 - 1663.