An Old Woman scouring a Pot
- Artist: Godfried Schalcken
- Date: 1660s
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is "An Old Woman scouring a Pot" painted in the Dutch style around the 1660s by Godfried Schalcken. The woman's task of polishing a pan may seem mundane, but it takes on a deeper meaning when we look at the objects surrounding her.
On the sill, there's a broken pot, which suggests vulnerability to the passage of time. A candlestick lies tipped on its side, hinting at mortality through the brief burning life of candles. Even the butterfly, seemingly innocently settled near the painting's edge, adds to this theme by alluding to its own very short lifespan.
While the woman's work may be seen as virtuous, it's ultimately futile, implying that no matter how hard we try to maintain order and beauty, time will eventually take its toll. This contrasts with the idea of faith and Christian redemption, which emphasizes the eternal nature of the soul over the transience of worldly life.
Schalcken's use of light and shade creates a striking contrast, with the interior of the room shrouded in darkness, highlighting the glow of the objects on the sill. His composition is simpler than that of his teacher Gerrit Dou, who pioneered this niche format for paintings of tradespeople at work. Schalcken likely learned from Dou's masterful depictions of everyday life and adapted them to suit his own style.
See it in person
An Old 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.
