A richly dressed woman sits upright against a dark background, her left hand resting on a chair and her right hand holding a closed fan. Her face, framed by dark curled hair and a delicate lace headpiece, is turned slightly toward the viewer, with a calm and reserved expression. A wide, translucent ruff encircles her neck, its feathery edges painted with fine, soft strokes that catch the light.

The bodice and sleeves of her gown are densely decorated with rows of pearls and gold embroidery, the reflective surfaces rendered with small, precise touches of white and yellow paint. Her voluminous skirt fills the lower half of the composition, its surface patterned with swirling gold motifs that shimmer against the deep brown fabric. The sitter’s right wrist is adorned with a bracelet, and a large ring glints on her finger, further emphasizing her status.

Behind her, a heavy red curtain emerges from the darkness, its folds painted with broad, sweeping strokes that contrast with the intricate detail of her dress. The lighting falls from the left, illuminating her face and the textures of her attire, while the background remains in shadow, focusing attention on the figure. The composition is carefully balanced, with the sitter’s upright posture and the diagonal of her arm leading the gaze across the canvas.

Tiny highlights on the pearls and jewelry reveal the artist’s attention to the play of light on different surfaces. A row of large, round gold buttons runs down the left edge of the chair, catching the light against the dark wood. The lower left corner of the painting shows the sitter's hand gripping the chair, with her fingers delicately curved and the knuckles subtly highlighted.

The background on the right side transitions from deep black to a softer, smoky gray, creating a gentle halo effect around the sitter's head and shoulder. The heavy red curtain in the upper left corner is gathered and twisted, with deep shadows emphasizing its thick folds. The paint on the skirt is applied with visible, looping brushstrokes, giving the gold motifs a textured, almost raised appearance against the smooth fabric. The painting was created by Diego Velázquez in 1632.