Artwork
A Sleeping Saleswoman
A Sleeping Saleswoman is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gabriel Metsu. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The presence of the cat suggests domesticity or potential pest control within the market setting, while the fish serve as the primary commodity of her business.
Gabriel Metsu's A Sleeping Saleswoman is a genre scene from 1655 that portrays a woman asleep at a market stall. The composition includes specific iconographic elements such as a cat and fish displayed as food. These details situate the figure within the context of a fishmonger or market vendor, highlighting the daily reality of her trade.
The work captures a moment of rest, contrasting the labor of selling goods with the vulnerability of slumber. The presence of the cat suggests domesticity or potential pest control within the market setting, while the fish serve as the primary commodity of her business.
Technique & Style
The work titled A Sleeping Saleswoman is classified as a painting by Gabriel Metsu and was created in 1655. It falls within the genre scene category, a style that captures everyday moments characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age. The composition depicts a sleeping woman accompanied by a cat and a fish, highlighting quiet everyday details.
The painting is part of the Statens Museum for Kunst collection, indicating its institutional ownership. Information regarding the specific materials, support, handling procedures, condition, or detailed formal qualities is not provided in the sources consulted.
History & Provenance
A Sleeping Saleswoman is a 1655 painting by Dutch Golden Age artist Gabriel Metsu, classified as a genre scene. The composition shows a woman asleep beside a cat and a fish, reflecting everyday life. According to the work’s provenance, it was owned by merchant Gerrit Braamcamp before entering the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, where it remains.
No documentary evidence of a specific commission survives, and the painting is dated to 1655 based on contemporary records.
The source does not provide a specific inventory or accession number for the work, nor does it list any exhibition history.
Overview
Gabriel Metsu, a Dutch artist active in the mid-17th century, completed A Sleeping Saleswoman in 1655. This painting exemplifies the genre scenes popular during the Dutch Golden Age. It portrays a woman in a moment of repose, her surroundings filled with domestic details and objects suggesting her trade. The work is part of the collection at the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Context
Gabriel Metsu was a versatile painter during the Dutch Golden Age, known for his ability to execute various subjects beyond genre scenes, including portraits, still lifes, and historical narratives. A Sleeping Saleswoman reflects his engagement with the detailed observation of daily life, a prominent theme in Dutch art of the period. While many of his works remain undated, this piece provides a clear example of his output from 1655.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gabriël Metsu (1629–1667) was a Dutch painter of history paintings, still lifes, portraits, and genre works.
