Artwork
The Milkmaid
The Milkmaid is a print by the Baroque artist Gerrit Claesz Bleker. It dates from 1643 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1643, *The Milkmaid* is a black‑and‑white print by Haarlem artist Gerrit Claesz. Bleker, a member of the local Guild of St. Luke. The work depicts a rural gathering beneath a tree, where a milker, a child, and several figures attend to a cow and assorted farm implements, offering a quiet glimpse of everyday labor.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a communal milking scene, with the primary figure extracting milk while a caregiver holds a child nearby. Supporting characters sit with buckets and a basket, suggesting the collection and transport of dairy products. The arrangement conveys a sense of shared responsibility and the rhythm of agrarian life in the Dutch countryside.
Technique & Style
Bleker employs precise, linear engraving to render textures: the bark of the tree, the cow’s shaggy coat, and the folds of clothing are all delineated by sharp, controlled lines. Facial features are rendered with minimal detail yet retain expressive clarity, reflecting the Baroque interest in capturing movement and emotion within ordinary settings.
History & Provenance
The print entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view. Bleker, known primarily for landscape and historical allegories, produced this work during his active period in Haarlem before 1643, shortly after his admission to the Guild of St. Luke.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gerrit Claesz Bleker (1592, in Haarlem – February 8, 1656, in Haarlem), was a Dutch Golden Age painter.
