Artwork

Scene by the Window

Scene by the Window, by Friedrich Eduard Meyerheim, oil, 1858
Scene by the Window, by Friedrich Eduard Meyerheim, oil, 1858

Scene by the Window is an oil painting by the Realist artist Friedrich Eduard Meyerheim. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Scene by the Window is an 1858 oil painting by Friedrich Eduard Meyerheim, currently part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection. The work depicts a domestic interior scene.

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows a woman holding a baby and a young girl standing on a bench by a window, set against a cluttered, dimly lit room. The subjects' attire suggests a middle-class family setting, focusing on everyday life.

Technique & Style

Meyerheim employed chiaroscuro, leveraging strong light and dark contrasts to imbue the scene with depth and emotional resonance. The window, with its decorative metal frame, serves as the sole light source.

History & Provenance

Created in 1858, the painting is now housed at the State Hermitage Museum, though its acquisition history is not detailed here.

Context

The piece reflects a mid-19th-century interest in depicting mundane, intimate family moments, often emphasizing the quiet dignity of middle-class life.

Artist & collection

Hermitage Museum

Museum

Hermitage Museum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Hermitage Museum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.