Would she have guessed that we would study her inscrutable expression still, centuries later, when her name was lost to history? One side of her face speaks softly of the sad weight of existence, the other side radiates beautiful, otherworldly calm. Yes, the ribbon, lace, and pearls are stunning. But it is the extraordinary depth of her expression, so sensitively rendered, that elevates this portrait, arguably the finest painting in the museum. Oh dear girl—and oh dear Rembrandt—thank you for reminding us that people, that life itself, is the same as it ever was, and ever shall be.

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