Artwork
Young woman with lemon
Young woman with lemon is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Godfried Schalcken. It dates from 1694 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1694 by Dutch artist Godfried Schalcken, this oil painting portrays a young woman engaged in the simple act of peeling a lemon. The work exemplifies the intimate domestic genre scenes popular during the Dutch Golden Age and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a seated woman in a light‑brown dress accented with blue‑ribboned sleeves and a red skirt. She holds a small knife, removing the skin of a lemon placed on a plate before her, a motif that alludes to the fleeting nature of pleasure and the sensory contrast between sour taste and visual delicacy.
Technique & Style
Schalcken employs a refined chiaroscuro, casting a soft, directional light that models the woman’s face and hands with a three‑dimensional quality. The dark, muted background intensifies the luminosity of her skin and garments, while the careful rendering of the lemon’s texture showcases the artist’s meticulous handling of light and surface.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced during Schalcken’s mature period, when he was associated with the Leiden fijnschilders, a group noted for their precise brushwork and subtle lighting. It entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings in the 20th century, where it remains on display as a representative example of Dutch genre painting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Godfried Schalcken (8 October 1643 – 16 November 1706) was a Dutch artist who specialized in genre paintings and portraits.
