Artwork
An Old Woman by a Window
An Old Woman by a Window is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerrit Dou. It is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1711, An Old Woman by a Window is a small-scale oil painting by Gerrit Dou, a Dutch artist associated with the fijnschilders of Leiden. The work portrays an elderly woman positioned before an arched window, illuminated by a gentle light that highlights her contemplative expression. The painting is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is an aged woman dressed in a modest, long‑sleeved garment and a white headscarf, holding a spoon in one hand and a pot in the other. Her gaze is directed outward, suggesting a moment of quiet introspection. The composition invites viewers to consider themes of age, domestic routine, and the fleeting nature of thought.
Technique & Style
Dou employs a refined, meticulous approach characteristic of the fijnschilders, rendering textures such as fabric and metal with precise brushwork. The painting demonstrates subtle chiaroscuro, using a soft light to model the woman's face against a darker background, thereby creating depth while preserving a calm, intimate atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The canvas has remained within public holdings, currently displayed at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. Its attribution to Dou aligns with his known practice of small, highly detailed genre scenes, and the work continues to serve as an example of Dutch Golden Age portraiture within the museum's European collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gerrit Dou (pronounced; 7 April 1613 – 9 February 1675), also known as Gerard Douw or Dow, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, whose small, highly polished paintings are typical of the Leiden fijnschilders.
