A young woman with a pale, delicate complexion and a gentle smile faces forward, her head slightly inclined to the left. She wears a triple string of pearls around her neck and a single pearl earring in each ear. A wide, triple-layered lace collar, intricately patterned and edged with scalloped lace, covers her shoulders and upper chest.

A long gold chain, wound twice across her chest and shoulders, is fastened to the lace collar with a decorative rosette. Her dress is black with slashed sleeves, and the fabric appears heavy and textured beneath the luminous collar and chain. The background is a uniform greenish-grey, softly painted to set off the sitter without distraction.

Light falls from the left, illuminating her face and collar, and casting subtle shadows that model her features and the folds of her clothing. The brushwork is precise and smooth in the rendering of her face and pearls, while the lace collar is painted with crisp, delicate strokes to capture its elaborate detail. The composition is oval, focusing attention on the sitter's upper body and face, with no other figures or objects present.

The sitter’s hair is softly curled, with a delicate gold ornament or clasp visible above her left ear. A faint shadow falls behind her head onto the muted background, especially to the upper left, subtly enhancing the sense of depth. The upper right edge of the painting shows a patch of darker, loosely brushed paint, contrasting with the smooth modeling of the face.

There is a slight reddish blush on her cheeks and lips, adding warmth to the otherwise cool palette. The gold chain catches the light with touches of bright yellow and white, creating the illusion of individual links and their reflections. Portrait of a Woman Wearing a Gold Chain was painted by Rembrandt in 1634.