A 1895 portrait by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst, featuring a young girl framed by decorative, medieval-inspired foliage in graphite and watercolour.

This portrait, dated 1895, captures a young girl identified as Harpje at the age of fifteen. Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst, a prominent figure in the Dutch Symbolist movement, employs a highly decorative approach that reflects the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement and the aesthetic sensibilities of the late nineteenth century. The composition is framed within a pointed arch, a stylistic choice that evokes medieval manuscript illumination and religious iconography.

Behind the subject, a dense, stylised pattern of foliage fills the background, rendered in shades of ochre and gold. This flattened, ornamental backdrop contrasts with the more naturalistic treatment of the girl's features. Her expression is solemn, and her hands are clasped in a gesture of quiet contemplation. The use of graphite allows for delicate shading in the folds of her dress and the contours of her face, while the watercolour washes provide a muted, golden warmth to the surrounding space.

The inscription 'HARPJE' and 'AETAT XV' (Latin for 'at the age of fifteen') at the top of the arch reinforces the work's formal, almost ritualistic quality. Roland Holst was known for his interest in the synthesis of the arts, and this piece demonstrates his ability to integrate graphic design elements with traditional portraiture. The work avoids the psychological intensity often associated with later expressionist portraits, opting instead for a balanced, harmonious arrangement that prioritises line and decorative unity. It remains a characteristic example of the artist's graphic output during the 1890s, a period when he was deeply engaged with the visual language of the European avant-garde.