Who painted A Cook and a Kitchen Maid with the Provisions of the Kitchen?

A Cook and a Kitchen Maid with the Provisions of the Kitchen was painted by Anton Friedrich Harms in 1732.

Where can I see A Cook and a Kitchen Maid with the Provisions of the Kitchen?

A Cook and a Kitchen Maid with the Provisions of the Kitchen is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is A Cook and a Kitchen Maid with the Provisions of the Kitchen?

A Cook and a Kitchen Maid with the Provisions of the Kitchen is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

A Cook and a Kitchen Maid with the Provisions of the Kitchen

Anton Friedrich Harms , 1732

A Cook and a Kitchen Maid with the Provisions of the Kitchen is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Anton Friedrich Harms. It dates from 1732 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Anton Friedrich Harms painted this oil work in 1732, portraying a lively domestic scene inside a kitchen. The composition centers on a cook and a young maid surrounded by an array of foodstuffs, while a small dog rests near the lower edge. The painting is part of the collection of Denmark’s National Gallery, Statens Museum for Kunst.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a moment of preparation and service, emphasizing the everyday labor of kitchen staff. The cook, distinguished by a white cap and apron, stands ready to direct work, whereas the maid, seated at a table, appears amidst piles of fish, poultry, fruit, and vegetables, suggesting abundance and the organized chaos of food preparation.

Technique & Style

Harms employs a meticulous, naturalistic approach, rendering the textures of meat, skin, and produce with careful attention to light and shade. Subtle contrasts between illuminated surfaces and shadowed corners create depth, while the palette of muted earth tones and occasional bright highlights conveys the material qualities of the provisions.

History & Provenance

Created in the early eighteenth century, the painting entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings at an unspecified later date, becoming part of the museum’s representation of Northern European genre painting. Its provenance prior to acquisition remains undocumented in publicly available records.