Who painted Woman plucking a fowl?

Woman plucking a fowl was painted by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1650-01-01.

Where can I see Woman plucking a fowl?

Woman plucking a fowl is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Woman plucking a fowl?

Woman plucking a fowl is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Woman plucking a fowl

Rembrandt van Rijn , 1650

Woman plucking a fowl is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Around the middle of the 17th century, Rembrandt van Rijn produced a modestly sized oil on canvas that records a quiet domestic activity.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Woman plucking a fowl is a genre scene by Rembrandt dated 1650, executed in oil paint.

Woman plucking a fowl is a genre scene by Rembrandt dated 1650, executed in oil paint. According to the Wikidata record, the painting depicts a woman plucking a rooster, identifying the central subject as a domestic figure engaged in a routine kitchen task.

Genre paintings of this kind typically elevate an ordinary moment of daily labor into a subject worthy of close attention, focusing on the figure's concentration and the tactile handling of the bird. The rooster carries traditional associations with vigilance and, in Christian symbolism, with the Passion and the denial of Peter, though the sources provided do not explicitly state such an interpretive reading for this work. The painting is recorded as a lost work held in the Rijksmuseum collection.

History & Provenance

The work titled 'Woman plucking a fowl' is an oil painting on panel created in 1650. While traditionally associated with Rembrandt, modern scholarship identifies the piece as a lost painting executed by a follower of the master rather than by Rembrandt himself. The composition depicts a woman engaged in the act of plucking a rooster, falling within the genre of domestic scenes.

Historically, the painting entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it was recorded with dimensions of 35.3 cm in height and 25.1 cm in width. No specific details regarding the original commission or a detailed chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition are preserved in the available records.

Woman plucking a fowl, attributed to Rembrandt and dated to 1650, is recorded as part of the Rijksmuseum collection. According to the Wikidata entry for the work, it is catalogued as a lost painting by a Rembrandt follower, with measured dimensions of 35.3 cm in height and 25.1 cm in width.

No specific accession number is documented in the available sources, and no exhibition history is recorded for the painting.

Overview

Around the middle of the 17th century, Rembrandt van Rijn produced a modestly sized oil on canvas that records a quiet domestic activity. The work shows a solitary woman engaged in the preparation of a bird, rendered with the restrained palette and intimate scale typical of the artist’s genre pieces.

Technique & Style

Rembrandt employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing a soft light to fall on the woman’s face and hands while the surrounding space recedes into shadow. This contrast not only models the forms with a three‑dimensional quality but also draws attention to the textures of skin, fabric, and plumage.