Astrid Setterwall-Ångström was an artist and writer. She was one of the few Swedish artists who travelled to the USA and Canada on study trips. Gerda Roosval-Kallstenius portrays her with a book in her hand. The portrait is beautiful, but Astrid Ångström is not depicted as a passive beauty posed to be admired. Her pose and facial expression express integrity and her gaze confronts the viewer with self-assurance.