A detailed seventeenth-century engraving by Theodor Matham depicting the Dutch scholar Anna Maria van Schurman.

This engraving by Theodor Matham depicts Anna Maria van Schurman, a polymath and scholar of the Dutch Golden Age. Known for her linguistic abilities and theological writings, van Schurman was a figure of significant intellectual standing in seventeenth-century Europe. Matham, a member of a prominent family of engravers, employs the technical precision characteristic of the period to capture her likeness within an oval frame.

The portrait presents the subject in a formal, modest attire typical of the Dutch middle class and intellectual circles of the time. She wears a dark cap and a distinctive layered collar, which is rendered with fine cross-hatching to suggest the texture of the fabric. Her expression is composed, reflecting the gravity associated with her scholarly pursuits. The engraving technique allows for subtle gradations of tone, particularly in the modelling of the face and the soft shadows cast by the collar.

Below the portrait, the inscription provides biographical details, noting her birth in Utrecht in 1607 and her death in Altena in 1678. This format follows the tradition of commemorative portraiture, where the image serves as a record of the individual's appearance and status. The work is a clear example of the reproductive print culture that allowed portraits of notable figures to circulate among a wider audience. By focusing on the clarity of line and the careful observation of features, Matham produces a document that is both a technical achievement and a historical record of one of the most learned women of her era. The print remains a valuable resource for those interested in the visual culture of the seventeenth-century Netherlands and the representation of intellectual women in early modern art.