The woman portrayed is austerely dressed in black with a starched white linen ruff and bonnet, the prevailing fashion for married women of the burgher class. Her status is underlined by fashionable, luxurious details like soft fur and gloves. Frans Hals was a much sought-after portraitist in Haarlem who developed a painting technique of his own. With deft brushstrokes, he was able to convey both individual facial features and rustling silk fabrics.