The present painting exemplifies the interpretive polyvalence of the tronie. At first glance, it appears to meet the parameters of a portrait: the bust of an old woman is positioned at a three-quarter angle, and as is typical in a portrait, the sitter gazes out of the image, creating the usual suggestion of timelessness. But while the true portrait seeks a balance between verisimilitude and idealization, here the description of the female face is realistic and un-enhanced. The face, modelled in tones of red, white and blue, conveys an impression of vitlaity, but the solid forms of wrinkled flesh clearly show the signs of old age. The identification of this image as a tronie is also reinforced by the dramatic illumination, rarely seen in a portrait. The light is concentrated on the woman’s face, leaving the rest of the head and shoulders in shadow.