Artwork
Woman and Child in a Courtyard
Woman and Child in a Courtyard is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Pieter de Hooch. It dates from 1659 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left on trough: P D Hooch
About this work
Subject & Meaning
, and the subject matter illustrates the era's focus on family cohesion and the domestic sphere, as seen in the genre works of Pieter de Hooch.
The painting depicts a woman holding a child within a courtyard, a domestic interior that typifies Dutch genre scenes of the mid-17th century. The composition captures a quiet moment of maternal care amid modest architectural surroundings. The work belongs to the genre of genre painting, reflecting the everyday life of the period.
It is part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington, D.C., and the subject matter illustrates the era's focus on family cohesion and the domestic sphere, as seen in the genre works of Pieter de Hooch.
History & Provenance
Woman and Child in a Courtyard was painted by Pieter de Hooch in 1659. The painting's early ownership is undocumented, but it surfaced in the London art market in 1903 when it was handled by Mssrs. Lawrie & Co. and noted by Hofstede de Groot in March of that year.
It subsequently passed through Arthur J. Sulley & Co., London, and then M. Knoedler & Co. between 1904 and 1905. In 1905 the work was sold to American collector Peter A. B. Widener for display at Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. After Widener's death, the painting passed via power of appointment to his son, Joseph E. Widener, who donated it to the National Gallery of Art in 1942. No record of a specific commission survives.
Overview
Pieter de Hooch, a prominent Dutch Golden Age painter, completed Woman and Child in a Courtyard in 1659. This oil on canvas exemplifies his characteristic focus on tranquil domestic life. Created during his active period in Delft, the work captures a private interaction within an everyday setting, reflecting the artist's mature style and thematic interests from this significant phase of his career.
Context
Active in Delft from 1652, Pieter de Hooch was a contemporary of artists like Jan Vermeer, sharing a similar artistic environment. Both painters explored themes of domesticity and daily life, often utilizing architectural elements such as open doorways to frame their compositions and create depth. This painting aligns with the prevalent artistic trends of the Dutch Golden Age, emphasizing quiet interior and courtyard scenes.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Hendricksz. de Hooch (Dutch:; also spelled Hoogh or Hooghe; bapt. 20 December 1629 – after 1683), was a Dutch Golden Age painter famous for his genre works of quiet domestic scenes with an open doorway. He was a…
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Een gezelschap op de plaats achter een huis
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A peasant with his wife and child in front of the farmhouse
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Interior with Women beside a Linen Cupboard
Interieur mit drei Frauen und einem Mädchen- Scene in a Courtyard