Artwork
Man with Wench
Man with Wench is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerrit Lundens. It dates from 1673 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
The painting 'Man with Wench' depicts a quiet, everyday scene from the 17th century. A man observes a woman who has fallen asleep, likely due to intoxication.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows a man leaning over a slumped woman at a table, where a wine jug and pipe are present. The woman's state suggests a moment of revelry gone too far, inviting interpretation of the man's reaction as either amusement or annoyance.
Technique & Style
The use of chiaroscuro is evident, with the scene lit by a single candle, creating a stark contrast between light and dark. This technique emphasizes the intimacy and informality of the moment captured.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gerrit Lundens (1622 – 1686), was a Dutch painter known for his genre scenes, portraits and a single vanitas painting.
Portrait of a woman with a tilted head
Brothel scene with a sleeping couple
The Death of Cleopatra. Laterally reversed copy after Caspar Netscher in the Staatliche Kunsthalle in Karlsruhe
The Death of Lucretia
Young Woman at a Window
The Doctor's Visit
The Courtesan
Vertumnus and Pomona
Bubble-blowing Girl with a Vanitas Still Life
Woman in front of the mirror
A Sleeping Courtesan