A Woman scouring a Pot
- Artist: Pieter van den Bosch
- Date: about 1650-60
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "A Woman scouring a Pot" painted in the early 17th century by Pieter van den Bosch. The scene depicts an Amsterdam household doing the washing up in a gloomy kitchen. Her attention has clearly been caught by something outside the picture, but she hardly breaks from her work, still keeping the pressure on the dish she is polishing.
The contrast between the shadows on the right and the light catching the results of her labour is quite striking. The painter hasn't focused on making this a dramatic scene; instead he's captured a moment of everyday life in all its simplicity. This would have been considered admirable to a 17th-century audience, who prized dedication to domestic duty.
The painting isn't signed but it may be by Pieter van den Bosch, an artist known for his genre paintings. Despite the gloomy atmosphere, there is a sense of calm and order here that must have resonated with the people of the time. This picture could have hung in a hall or parlour as a reminder of the importance of hard work and daily routine.
See it in person
A Woman scouring a Pot 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.
