Margareta van Eyck sits in three-quarter view, her body turned almost directly toward the viewer, against a deep black background that isolates her figure. Her face is rendered with meticulous detail, showing a pale complexion, a high forehead, and a subtle evidence of a squint in her left eye. She wears a striking red gown lined with grey fur at the collar and cuffs, the folds of the fabric carefully modeled to suggest weight and texture.

Margareta’s head is crowned with a large white wimple, its linen edges crimped and layered, falling in angular folds over her shoulders. The light falls evenly across her face and upper body, highlighting the textures of skin, fur, and fabric, while the background remains featureless and dark. The surface of the painting shows a fine network of craquelure, revealing the age of the panel and the delicate handling of oil paint.

A broad green band encircles Margareta’s waist, decorated with a subtle chevron pattern that stands out against the red of her gown. The left edge of the wimple is sharply defined, with crisp, scalloped folds that cast delicate shadows on her shoulder and chest. The fur lining of her gown is rendered with soft, feathery brushstrokes that contrast with the smoother handling of the skin and fabric.

The right edge of the painting closely crops the sleeve and wimple, emphasizing the subject’s presence within the frame. The black background is entirely flat and unmodulated, providing no indication of space or setting beyond the figure. The work belongs to the tradition of Early Netherlandish painting, noted for its precise observation and technical mastery. The painting’s intimate and unidealised depiction suggests it was created for private viewing, and its careful attention to costume and physiognomy reflects the artist’s interest in individuality.