A Woman and her Maid in a Courtyard
- Artist: Pieter de Hooch
- Date: about 1660/1
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A Woman and her Maid in a Courtyard" painted by Pieter de Hooch. Apparently obeying her mistress, who stands in front of her, the maid seems to have taken the fish out of the cooking pot; perhaps she is doing this outside to make it easier to pour away the water.
Looking closer at the courtyard scene, you'll notice that it's a meticulously composed space. The artist has used familiar elements to create an authentic atmosphere. For instance, the summer house in the background appears in two other paintings by de Hooch, demonstrating his practice of reusing and adapting elements to achieve a sense of realism.
One of the most appealing aspects of this painting is its insight into everyday life, especially the lives of women. Scenes like these were not common in art before the 1640s, but they became a popular theme in Dutch seventeenth-century painting. De Hooch's paintings are some of the most evocative examples of this genre.
As you take in the details of the painting, notice how de Hooch creates both a realistic sense of space and glimpses of the world beyond the picture. The open door and window on the right hint at the kitchen we can't quite see, while the two gates standing ajar create a long view down the garden path and through to some steps in the far distance.
This painting is dated around 1660-61 and was created using oil on canvas.
See it in person
A Woman and her Maid in a Courtyard hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
