Artwork
Soldier Offering a Woman a Glass of Wine
Soldier Offering a Woman a Glass of Wine is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter de Hooch. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1650, this oil painting by Pieter de Hooch captures a modest interior scene typical of the Dutch Golden Age. The work is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection and exemplifies de Hooch’s focus on everyday moments rendered with a calm, measured composition.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a soldier in a brown coat and red breeches extending a glass of wine toward a seated woman in a white shirt and blue apron. A young boy stands behind her, observing the exchange. The gesture conveys a restrained hospitality, suggesting a polite interaction within a domestic setting rather than a dramatic narrative.
Technique & Style
De Hooch employs his characteristic handling of light, allowing daylight to filter through an open doorway that frames a view of trees and a cloud‑filled sky. The subtle gradations of tone and the careful placement of figures create a sense of depth, while the muted palette reinforces the quiet atmosphere of the interior.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced in Delft, where de Hooch worked alongside contemporaries such as Jan Vermeer. After changing hands over the centuries, it entered the State Hermitage Museum, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s representation of 17th‑century Dutch art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Hendricksz. de Hooch (Dutch: ; also spelled Hoogh or Hooghe; bapt. 20 December 1629 – after 1683), was a Dutch Golden Age painter famous for his genre works of quiet domestic scenes with an open doorway. He was a…
