An Old Woman Bleeding a Young Woman, known as 'The Bloodletting'
1660
oil
From the collection of Mauritshuis
1660
oil
From the collection of Mauritshuis
In this painting, a young woman sits in a chair, her arm extended and her wrist sliced open. An older woman, dressed in a red and white apron, is carefully bleeding her. The scene is set in a simple room with a wooden floor and a small table in the background. The artist's use of light and shadow creates a sense of intimacy and quiet contemplation. The older woman's gentle touch and the young woman's calm demeanor suggest a sense of trust and familiarity between the two. The artist's attention to detail, from the folds of the apron to the texture of the wooden floor, adds depth and realism to the scene. The artist, Quirijn van Brekelenkam, was a Dutch painter known for his domestic scenes and portraits.
