Artwork

The Sick Woman

The Sick Woman, by Jan Steen, oil, 1664
The Sick Woman, by Jan Steen, oil, 1664

The Sick Woman is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Steen. It dates from 1664 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

Executed in 1664, this genre scene by Jan Steen is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 76 cm in height and 63.5 cm in width. As a piece of genre art, it utilizes the standard materials of the period to depict its subject matter.

History & Provenance

While the source identifies the institution and the specific collection ownership, it does not provide a unique inventory or accession number for the painting.

Jan Steen executed the oil painting The Sick Woman in 1664. The work was created on canvas and depicts a genre scene. Historically, the painting entered the collection of Adriaan van der Hoop, who is recorded as a former owner.

Following Van der Hoop's possession, the artwork became part of the holdings shared by the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum, where it remains located.

Jan Steen's The Sick Woman, painted in 1664, is held within the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The work is specifically part of the Adriaan van der Hoop collection, which is housed at the museum. While the source identifies the institution and the specific collection ownership, it does not provide a unique inventory or accession number for the painting. The provided sources contain no information regarding a history of exhibitions for this work.

Context

Jan Steen's 1664 painting The Sick Woman exemplifies his mastery of genre painting, blending moralizing narrative with vivid domestic realism within the Dutch Golden Age tradition. The work, created during Steen's mature period, reflects contemporary debates about domestic virtue and medical practice through its depiction of a mother tending a feverish child. Its formal qualities, particularly the dynamic composition and nuanced use of light, have been analyzed by scholars as both a technical achievement and a subtle commentary on 17th-century household life, situating it within broader discussions of genre painting's social functions.

The painting remains a key reference point in studies of Dutch domestic art, frequently cited for its psychological depth and compositional innovation.

Overview

The Sick Woman is an oil painting by Jan Steen, created in 1664. It is a genre scene held at the Rijksmuseum.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a worried woman in a yellow dress and white headscarf sitting on a bed, with a man in black leaning over her. His hand on her shoulder suggests he is checking her pulse or offering comfort, capturing a quiet, intimate moment.

The Sick Girl
The Sick Girl, Jan Steen

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jan Steen

Artist

Jan Steen

Jan Havickszoon Steen was a Dutch Golden Age painter, one of the leading genre painters of the 17th century.

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

Continue through works from the same source collection.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted The Sick Woman?

The Sick Woman was painted by Jan Steen in 1664.

Where can I see The Sick Woman?

The Sick Woman is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is The Sick Woman?

The Sick Woman is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of The Sick Woman?

Museum-quality prints of The Sick Woman are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.