Artwork
Magd am Brunnen (Art des)
Magd am Brunnen (Art des) is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Quirijn van Brekelenkam. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Quirijn van Brekelenkam, a mid‑17th‑century Dutch painter associated with the Leiden fijnschilders, executed *Magd am Brunnen* circa 1650. The work is a modestly sized oil on canvas that now belongs to the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. It exemplifies the genre‑painting tradition that focused on quiet, everyday moments.
Subject & Meaning
The scene presents a young maid bent over a wooden barrel, apparently rolling or wringing something in her hands. Domestic items—a broom, basket, pot and a small framed picture—populate the cramped interior, emphasizing the routine labor of household service. The composition invites contemplation of ordinary work as a worthy artistic subject, a hallmark of Dutch genre painting.
Technique & Style
Van Brekelenkam employs a refined, meticulous brushwork typical of the fijnschilders, rendering textures such as the dark dress, light apron and wooden surfaces with precise detail. A strong chiaroscuro scheme creates dramatic contrast: a narrow light source illuminates the maid’s face and hands while deep shadows recede into the surrounding clutter, enhancing three‑dimensionality.
History & Provenance
The painting likely originated in Leiden, where the artist was active, and entered the European art market in the 18th century. It was acquired by the Bavarian royal collection before being transferred to the Alte Pinakothek, where it has been on display since the museum’s early acquisitions of Dutch Baroque works.
Context
Created during the Dutch Golden Age, the work reflects the period’s fascination with genre scenes that documented middle‑class life. Van Brekelenkam, possibly a pupil of Gerard Dou, inherited Dou’s interest in intimate interiors and the careful rendering of light, situating this piece within the broader Leiden school of finely detailed domestic narratives.
Artist & collection
Artist
Quirijn or Quiringh Gerritsz van Brekelenkam (1622/29, Zwammerdam – 1669/79, Leiden) was a Dutch Baroque genre painter.
