Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Ivan Kramskoi

Portrait of an Unknown Woman

Portrait of an Unknown Woman (also known as The Unknown Woman, An Unknown Lady or Stranger^[2]) (Russian: Неизвестная or Neizvestnaya ^[3]) is a painting by the Russian artist Ivan Kramskoi, executed in 1883. The identity of the model is unknown and depicts a woman of "quiet strength and forthright gaze".^[4] It is one of Russia's best-known art works, although a number of critics were indignant when the painting was first exhibited and condemned what they saw as a depiction of a haughty and immoral woman. Its popularity has grown with changes in public taste.^[5]

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait of an Unknown Woman