The image shows the upper body of an elderly woman in profile, seated and engaged in reading. Her facial features are delicately etched with wrinkles. She has a prominent nose and slightly pursed lips. Her hair is partially visible, gray, and appears fine and thin, though it is mostly concealed under a dark, textured shawl that covers her head and drapes down her back. Her clothing seems to be layered with textured fabrics. She holds a book open in her hands, focusing intently on its pages, and her hands are aged. The background is plain and unadorned.