Portrait of Catherine Behaghel
Jacques Jordaens
1635
Catharina Behaghel was a member of Antwerp’s wealthy bourgeoisie. Her clothes and accessories, such as the fan, reflect her status. She was probably pregnant when she and her husband were portrayed by Jordaens. Their frontal depiction was unusual for companion portraits of the time. Interestingly, the herm figure in the golden pillar next to Catharina is female, while the one next to her husband is male.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam · Image: Rijksmuseum, Public domain · Text: Rijksmuseum, CC0