Artwork
Woman with a Basket of Fruit

Woman with a Basket of Fruit is an oil painting by Carel de Moor. It dates from 1705 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1705, *Woman with a Basket of Fruit* is an oil painting by Dutch artist Carel de Moor. Executed during the height of the Dutch Golden Age, the work presents a single figure in a domestic setting, emphasizing the quiet intimacy typical of the period’s genre scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a woman dressed in a glossy brown gown and a feathered hat, turning her gaze to the right while holding a wicker basket brimming with apples and grapes. The inclusion of abundant fruit reflects contemporary interests in everyday prosperity and the visual celebration of material bounty.
Technique & Style
De Moor employs a dark, muted background that heightens the contrast between the luminous fabric of the dress and the vivid colors of the fruit. The careful rendering of textures—shiny silk, feathered headwear, and woven wicker—demonstrates the artist’s skill in creating tactile realism within a modestly scaled canvas.
History & Provenance
A pupil of the renowned Gerard Dou, de Moor worked within the tradition of Dutch still‑life and genre painting that flourished in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. While specific ownership records for this particular canvas are limited, it remains representative of de Moor’s output during his mature period.
Context
The painting aligns with a broader Dutch artistic trend that favored intimate, domestic subjects over grand historical narratives. By focusing on a solitary figure and everyday objects, de Moor contributes to the visual culture that valued modesty, careful observation, and the moral undertones often associated with fruit symbolism.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carel de Moor (25 February 1655 – 16 February 1738) was a Dutch Golden Age etcher and painter. He was a pupil of the Dutch Golden Age painter Gerard Dou.



















