A Child of the Honigh Family on its Deathbed
1694
oil
From the collection of Mauritshuis
1694
oil
From the collection of Mauritshuis
The painting shows a child lying on a deathbed, wrapped in a white cloth with lace trim. The child's face is pale, and its eyes are closed. The background is dark, with a few folds of fabric visible. The child's body is positioned in a way that suggests it has been laid out for viewing, with its head resting on a pillow. The white cloth that wraps the child's body is smooth and unrumpled, giving the impression of a sense of calm and serenity. The painting's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and volume, drawing the viewer's eye to the child's face. Look up the technique of chiaroscuro next.
