Artwork
Woman Selling Vegetables
Woman Selling Vegetables is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Quirijn van Brekelenkam. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Woman Selling Vegetables is a 17th-century 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 a domestic scene of three women and a child amidst vegetables and produce, conveying a sense of everyday life. The women's activities, including selling and sorting, suggest a quiet, mundane atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Van Brekelenkam's use of chiaroscuro creates a strong contrast between light and dark, drawing attention to the figures and objects. The artist's attention to detail is evident in the rendering of the vegetables, faces, and textures, characteristic of the Leiden fijnschilders' style.
History & Provenance
Created around 1655, Woman Selling Vegetables is now held in the State Hermitage Museum. Van Brekelenkam was likely trained by Gerard Dou, influencing his meticulous approach to painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Quirijn or Quiringh Gerritsz van Brekelenkam (1622/29, Zwammerdam – 1669/79, Leiden) was a Dutch Baroque genre painter.
