Artwork
'The anemic lady'
'The anemic lady' is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Samuel van Hoogstraten. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
The Anemic Lady is a 1665 oil painting by Samuel van Hoogstraten, a Dutch artist known for his work in multiple creative fields.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a woman in a domestic setting, surrounded by two men and a cat. The woman's pale complexion and the subdued atmosphere of the room suggest a sense of stillness and quiet contemplation.
Technique & Style
The artist achieved a sense of depth and volume through the use of chiaroscuro, a technique that exploits contrasts between light and dark to create a three-dimensional effect. Soft shadows and muted lighting contribute to the overall somber mood.
History & Provenance
The Anemic Lady is part of the Rijksmuseum collection, representing the Dutch Golden Age tradition of genre scenes that explore everyday life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel Dirksz van Hoogstraten (2 August 1627 in Dordrecht – 19 October 1678 in Dordrecht) was a Dutch Golden Age painter, who was also a poet and author on art theory.
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