Who painted Young woman, carrying a child on her shoulder?

Young woman, carrying a child on her shoulder was painted by Pieter Aertsen in 1551.

Where can I see Young woman, carrying a child on her shoulder?

Young woman, carrying a child on her shoulder is held by Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

What movement is Young woman, carrying a child on her shoulder?

Young woman, carrying a child on her shoulder is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Young woman, carrying a child on her shoulder?

Museum-quality prints of Young woman, carrying a child on her shoulder are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Young woman, carrying a child on her shoulder

Pieter Aertsen , 1551

Young woman, carrying a child on her shoulder is a paint painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter Aertsen. It dates from 1551 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

About this work

Overview

Young woman, carrying a child on her shoulder is a 16th-century oil painting by Pieter Aertsen, a prominent Dutch Northern Mannerist. Created around 1551, it exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age and is part of the collection at the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

Subject & Meaning

The painting focuses on a serene young woman in a white robe, carrying a naked child on her shoulder, set against a backdrop of subdued, dark tones. The contrast highlights the central figures, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation. Figures in the background engage in everyday activities, though the primary emotional focus remains on the woman and child.

Technique & Style

Aertsen employs chiaroscuro to add depth and dimensionality, guiding the viewer's gaze to the main subjects. This technique, along with the blend of foreground simplicity and background activity, reflects Aertsen's characteristic style, which would later influence Flemish Baroque and Italian painting.

History & Provenance

Painted circa 1551, the work is attributed to Pieter Aertsen's active period in Amsterdam and Antwerp. It is currently housed at the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, part of its Dutch Golden Age collection.

Context

This piece is emblematic of Aertsen's pioneering work in monumental genre scenes, often combining everyday life with subtle religious or biblical undertones, though the latter is not overtly emphasized in this particular work.

Legacy

Aertsen's innovative approach to genre painting, as seen in Young woman, carrying a child on her shoulder, contributed to the development of later artistic movements, notably influencing Flemish Baroque and certain aspects of Italian painting.

Old Woman and Child, Eugène Modeste Edmond Lepoittevin

Own this work as a print

Artist & collection

Artist

Pieter Aertsen

Pieter Aertsen (1508 in Amsterdam – 2 June 1575 in Amsterdam), called Lange Piet ("Tall Pete") because of his height, was a Dutch painter in the style of Northern Mannerism.