Artwork
Old Woman by the Fireplace
Old Woman by the Fireplace is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist August Allebé. It dates from 1875 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Old Woman by the Fireplace is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support, a relatively small-scale format measuring approximately 21.
Old Woman by the Fireplace is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support, a relatively small-scale format measuring approximately 21.7 cm in height by 16 cm in width. The work is classified as a genre scene, consistent with its intimate domestic subject matter. The modest dimensions and panel support are characteristic of cabinet-style genre paintings produced in the Dutch tradition during the latter nineteenth century, allowing for detailed handling at close viewing range.
History & Provenance
Old Woman by the Fireplace has been part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection since at least the late twentieth century. The painting is catalogued under inventory number SK-A-2782 within the museum’s holdings.
While the work was created in 1875, its exhibition history remains sparsely documented in accessible records. It has primarily been displayed as part of the Rijksmuseum’s permanent galleries dedicated to nineteenth-century Dutch art, though specific temporary exhibitions featuring the piece have not been substantiated by available sources.
Context
Old Woman by the Fireplace is an 1875 oil painting by August Allebé depicting a domestic interior scene, reflecting the genre conventions of 19th-century Dutch realism. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, underscoring its significance within Allebé's oeuvre and the broader Dutch art market of the period. Scholarship on Allebé emphasizes his role in bridging Romanticism and emerging naturalist trends, with this painting exemplifying his focus on intimate, everyday moments rendered with precise detail.
Its presence in a major national museum highlights its recognized historical and artistic value within Dutch cultural heritage.
Legacy
Old Woman by the Fireplace (1875) by August Allebé was acquired by the Rijksmuseum shortly after its creation, establishing a lasting institutional presence that has shaped scholarly assessments of his genre work. The painting's early provenance at the Rijksmuseum enabled extensive documentation of Allebé's realist tendencies and contributed to retrospective evaluations of his role in 19th-century Dutch domestic scenes. Its continued display in the museum's collection has reinforced the work's reputation as a representative example of Dutch interior painting from the 1870s.
Overview
Old Woman by the Fireplace is an 1875 oil painting by August Allebé, a Dutch painter who transitioned from Romanticism to Realism and Impressionism. The work depicts a serene domestic scene.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays an elderly woman sitting by a fireplace, cradling a cat, surrounded by modest, warmly decorated interiors. Her gentle pose and the setting convey a sense of quiet, everyday life.
Artist & collection
Artist
August Allebé was an artist and teacher from the Northern Netherlands. His early paintings were in a romantic style, but in his later work he was an exponent of realism and impressionism. He was a major initiator and…
