272 - O. POTTHAST VON MINDEN (*1869), An Elderly Lady in Black, 1897, Oil

O. POTTHAST VON MINDEN (*1869), An Elderly Lady in Black, 1897, Oil Olga Potthast von Minden (1869 Sanderbusch – 1942 Varel): Portrait of an Elderly Lady in Black, 1897, Oil Technique: Oil on canvas, mounted on cardboard Inscription: Signed lower left: “O v. Minden. Berlin.” Numbered lower left: “IV.” Dated lower left: “16/6 1897.” Date: 1897 Description: A frontal bust of an elderly lady looking toward the viewer. She is presumably a widow and is therefore dressed in black. The aged face, with wrinkles around the eyes, mouth, and forehead, is depicted realistically. The artist actually became known for her landscape paintings. Her portrait works are less common, but demonstrate that she also mastered this genre. Keywords: Portrait of a woman, Portrait of a lady, Lady, Old age, Widow, 19th century, Realism, Portraits, Germany, Size: Canvas: 48.4 cm x 38.6 cm (19.1 x 15.2 in) Condition: In fairly good condition. Unframed. The painting is slightly soiled. Worn around the edges. There are scratches, particularly in the lower left section around the shoulder and chest. The missing lower left corner of the canvas has been replaced.