Who painted Woman at her Toilet?

Woman at her Toilet was painted by Jan Steen in 1657-01-01.

Where can I see Woman at her Toilet?

Woman at her Toilet is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Woman at her Toilet?

Woman at her Toilet is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Woman at her Toilet?

Museum-quality prints of Woman at her Toilet are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Woman at her Toilet

Jan Steen , 1657

Woman at her Toilet is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Steen. It dates from 1657 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

Stylistically, the painting belongs to the genre art category, depicting a woman with a stocking, accompanied by a dog and set within a bedchamber interior.

Woman at her Toilet is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, a support characteristic of Jan Steen's smaller-scale genre scenes. The work measures 37 cm in height by 27.5 cm in width, an intimate format suited to its domestic subject matter. Its modest dimensions and panel support are consistent with the cabinet-picture tradition in which Steen frequently worked during the mid-1650s.

Stylistically, the painting belongs to the genre art category, depicting a woman with a stocking, accompanied by a dog and set within a bedchamber interior. The handling reflects Steen's narrative approach to everyday domestic life, using the small panel surface to focus attention on the figure and her immediate surroundings.

History & Provenance

Jan Steen completed the panel painting Woman at her Toilet in 1657. The work's ownership history includes possession by Gerrit Braamcamp, followed by Eugène Secrétan. It subsequently entered the collection of the dealer Charles Sedelmeyer.

The painting was offered for public sale as part of the Secrétan collection auction in 1889. It is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

Woman at her Toilet by Jan Steen, painted in 1657 on panel, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The painting was formerly owned by Gerrit Braamcamp, Eugène Secrétan, and Charles Sedelmeyer. Its documented exhibition history includes the Secretan sale in 1889.

Overview

Jan Steen's 1657 painting, Woman at her Toilet, is an intimate genre scene executed on panel. It captures a private moment as a woman prepares herself, depicting her in a domestic setting. This work is part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum, showcasing Steen's characteristic focus on everyday life in the Dutch Golden Age. The painting offers a glimpse into a personal routine, rendered with detailed observation.

Subject & Meaning

The artwork presents a woman seated on a wooden stool, engaged in the act of pulling on a stocking, with her other foot resting nearby. Her attire includes a loose white cap and a dark blue dress with fur trim, suggesting a moment of undress or preparation. Domestic elements such as a bed with a striped blanket, scattered red shoes, a metal bowl, and a small dog contribute to the scene's everyday realism and narrative quality.