Procuress (after Dirck van Baburen)
- Artist: Han van Meegeren (Artists)AfterDirck van Baburen (Artists)
- Date: (circa) 1930
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the “Procuress (after Dirck van Baburen)” by Han van Meegeren. Painted circa 1930 as an oil on canvas, the work is a direct homage to the seventeenth‑century Dutch master Dirck van Baburen, whose dramatic scenes of courtesans and moral tales were famed for their bold use of color and shadow. Meegeren, known primarily as a skilled forger, captures that same dramatic intensity. Notice the rich, warm palette—deep reds, ochres, and muted greens that give the sitter a lifelike presence. The composition follows the tight, almost theatrical framing that Baburen favored, with the woman positioned slightly off‑center, her face illuminated from the left, casting a sharp contrast across the dark background. The brushwork is confident; Meegeren replicates the subtle glazing technique of the Dutch masters, producing a surface that is both glossy and matte in places. Although created in the twentieth century, the piece feels unmistakably historical, a testament to Meegeren’s deep understanding of composition, lighting, and the psychology of his subjects. It’s a fascinating example of how a later artist can channel an earlier style with such convincing fidelity.
See it in person
Procuress (after Dirck van Baburen) hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
