Artwork
Old Woman at her Meal
Old Woman at her Meal is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Quirijn van Brekelenkam. It dates from 1651 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Old Woman at her Meal is a 1651 oil painting by Quirijn van Brekelenkam, a Dutch Baroque artist associated with the Leiden fijnschilders, known for their detailed work.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts an elderly woman eating a simple meal, seated at a table with bread, a bowl, and a pitcher, conveying a sense of everyday domesticity typical of Dutch Golden Age genre scenes.
Technique & Style
Van Brekelenkam's use of chiaroscuro emphasizes the texture of the subject's clothing and the bread, achieved through careful rendering of light and shadow on her face and hands.
History & Provenance
The painting is held in the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst, created during the artist's active period in the mid-17th century, likely following training under Gerard Dou.
Artist & collection
Artist
Quirijn or Quiringh Gerritsz van Brekelenkam (1622/29, Zwammerdam – 1669/79, Leiden) was a Dutch Baroque genre painter.
