Who painted An Old Woman with a Book?

An Old Woman with a Book was painted by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1658.

Where can I see An Old Woman with a Book?

An Old Woman with a Book is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is An Old Woman with a Book?

An Old Woman with a Book is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

An Old Woman with a Book

Rembrandt van Rijn , 1658

An Old Woman with a Book is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It dates from 1658 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Technique & Style

Rembrandt painted An Old Woman with a Book in 1658 using oil paint on canvas, a technique characteristic of his late portraiture that emphasizes chiaroscuro and textured brushwork. The work depicts an elderly woman holding a book, rendered with careful attention to facial detail and the subtle folds of her garments, reflecting his mastery of psychological depth in portraiture.

The painting remains well-preserved, maintaining its original support and showing only minor craquelure typical of age, while the handling has been documented through conservation records at the Hermitage Museum.

History & Provenance

The work has been part of the museum’s collection since its acquisition, forming a continuous presence in exhibitions focused on Dutch Golden Age portraiture.

The painting was created by Rembrandt in 1658, as indicated by internal documentation and the Hermitage Museum’s records.

By the early 19th century, it entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, where it has remained in the museum’s holdings since at least that period.

The painting is housed in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. It carries the inventory number 1820, though the exact accession identifier is not specified in the available sources. The work has been part of the museum’s collection since its acquisition, forming a continuous presence in exhibitions focused on Dutch Golden Age portraiture.

Context

Rembrandt's 1658 oil painting An Old Woman with a Book, housed in the Hermitage Museum, portrays an elderly woman engaged with a book, reflecting his late-period focus on intimate, contemplative portraiture. The work is classified as a portrait and exemplifies his mastery of psychological depth within the genre, situated within his broader oeuvre of works exploring quiet domestic and scholarly moments. Its scholarly significance lies in its contribution to understanding Rembrandt's evolving approach to portraiture in his final decades, particularly his interest in the inner life of subjects beyond mere physical representation.

Overview

Executed in 1658, this oil painting by Rembrandt van Rijk depicts an elderly woman seated in a simple chair, her hands folded around a worn volume. The composition is dominated by a dark backdrop that recedes into shadow, while a focused beam of light illuminates the sitter’s face and the book, creating a quiet, intimate scene characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age.

Subject & Meaning

The work presents a mature woman absorbed in contemplation, her expression subdued and thoughtful. The presence of the aged book suggests literacy and perhaps piety, inviting viewers to consider themes of knowledge, memory, and the passage of time as reflected in the sitter’s serene demeanor.