Artwork
Mid-day Meal
Mid-day Meal is an unspecified painting by Albert Neuhuys. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Albert Neuhuys, a Dutch painter linked to the Laren School and familiar with the Hague School, executed the work titled *Mid‑day Meal* circa 1889. The canvas, now part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection, portrays a modest interior scene that reflects the artist’s interest in everyday rural life.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a woman in dark, modest attire, hair gathered back, serving food to two young children seated at a low table. The children wear simple dresses, their faces attentive. The quiet interaction suggests a moment of familial care and the routine nourishment of a household.
Technique & Style
Neuhuys employs a restrained palette, juxtaposing the woman’s deep hues with the lighter tones of the children’s clothing. Subtle chiaroscuro models the figures, while the dimly lit room and rough stone wall provide a muted backdrop, enhancing the sense of intimacy and domestic calm.
History & Provenance
Created around the late 1880s, the painting entered the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader interest in 19th‑century Dutch genre painting and the Laren School’s depiction of rural interiors.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Johannes Albert Neuhuys (10 June 1844 – 6 February 1914) was one of the best-known painters of the Laren School and a friend of many of the Hague School painters.
