Portret van Charlotte van Bourbon - Gerhardus Fredericus Eilbracht

A nineteenth-century lithographic portrait of Charlotte of Bourbon, rendered with the precise detail and formal composition characteristic of Dutch historical printmaking.

This lithographic portrait depicts Charlotte of Bourbon, a figure of historical interest within the Dutch and French nobility. Gerhardus Fredericus Eilbracht, a Dutch artist active during the nineteenth century, produced this work as part of a series documenting historical figures. The print captures the subject in a profile view, wearing the characteristic ruff collar and structured bodice associated with sixteenth-century fashion. The artist employs the lithographic medium to create soft tonal transitions, particularly in the shading around the subject's shoulders and the delicate rendering of the lace-like patterns on her sleeves.

The composition is formal and restrained, typical of mid-nineteenth-century historical portraiture intended for educational or archival purposes. The inclusion of the text 'Publié par Soetens & Fils, à La Haye' indicates the print was distributed by the Soetens firm in The Hague, a common practice for disseminating historical imagery to a wider audience during this period. The surrounding frame, featuring subtle decorative corners, provides a clean presentation that directs the viewer's focus entirely to the subject's likeness. Eilbracht's approach avoids excessive ornamentation, favouring a clear, legible representation of the historical figure. This print offers a glimpse into how nineteenth-century artists interpreted and visualised the dress and appearance of individuals from earlier centuries. The work remains a representative example of the lithographic portraiture produced in the Netherlands during the mid-to-late 1800s, reflecting the era's interest in historical documentation and the refinement of printmaking techniques.