Who painted A Young Woman engaged at the Supper-table?

A Young Woman engaged at the Supper-table was painted by Gerrit Dou in 1657.

Where can I see A Young Woman engaged at the Supper-table?

A Young Woman engaged at the Supper-table is held by Städel Museum.

What movement is A Young Woman engaged at the Supper-table?

A Young Woman engaged at the Supper-table is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of A Young Woman engaged at the Supper-table?

Museum-quality prints of A Young Woman engaged at the Supper-table are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

A Young Woman engaged at the Supper-table

Gerrit Dou , 1657

A Young Woman engaged at the Supper-table is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerrit Dou. It dates from 1657 and is held in the collection of the Städel Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1657 by Gerrit Dou, a Dutch painter associated with the Leiden fijnschilders, this oil work captures a modest interior scene. The composition centers on a young woman at a supper table, illuminated by a candle and the glow of a nearby fireplace. The painting resides in the collection of the Städel Museum in Frankfurt.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a quiet domestic moment: a standing figure holds a candle that highlights a loaf of bread and simple dishes, while a second figure leans forward, seemingly reading a sheet of paper. The subdued lighting and intimate setting suggest a focus on everyday piety and the quiet rituals of household life in the mid‑seventeenth century.

Technique & Style

Dou employs a refined, small‑scale approach characteristic of the fijnschilders, emphasizing meticulous detail and smooth brushwork. Light is rendered through a careful chiaroscuro scheme, with the candle creating sharp highlights against deep shadows, enhancing the illusion of depth. Subtle trompe‑l'œil effects give the objects a tangible presence, reinforcing the scene’s realism.

History & Provenance

Gerrit Dou, a former pupil of Rembrandt, produced this work during the height of his career in Leiden. Over the centuries it entered various private collections before being acquired by the Städel Museum, where it has been displayed as part of the institution’s Dutch Golden Age holdings.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Gerrit Dou

Gerrit Dou (pronounced ; 7 April 1613 – 9 February 1675), also known as Gerard Douw or Dow, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, whose small, highly polished paintings are typical of the Leiden fijnschilders.