Via an open curtain Dou affords us a glimpse of a luxurious interior. A maid dresses the hair of a chic young woman, whose face is reflected in the mirror. The open door of the birdcage that hangs above her may symbolise that she has lost her virginity.,
Through an open curtain, Dou affords us a glimpse of a luxurious interior. A silver-gilt ewer and platter are on the table. A maid dresses the hair of a stylish young woman. We can see her face subtly reflected in the mirror.

Specifications
Title | A Young Woman at Her Toilet |
---|---|
Material and technique | Oil on panel |
Object type |
Painting
> Painting
> Two-dimensional object
> Art object
|
Location | This object is in storage |
Dimensions |
Width 58 cm Height 75.5 cm |
---|---|
Artists |
Schilder:
Gerard Dou
|
Accession number | 1186 (OK) |
Credits | Schenking / Donation: Henry Deterding 1936 |
Department | Old Masters |
Acquisition date | 1936 |
Age artist | About 54 years old |
Internal exhibitions |
The Collection Enriched (2011) |
External exhibitions |
Vermeer's Women: Secrets and Silence (2011) Behind the Curtain. Concealment and Revelation since the Renaissance (2016) Boijmans bij de Buren - Samensmeden, Meesters in zilver (2019) Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting. Inspiration and Rivalry (2017) |
Research | Alma |
Material | |
Object | |
Geographical origin | Northern Netherlands > The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe |
All about the artist
Gerard Dou
Leiden 1613 - Leiden 1675
Gerard Dou studied with Rembrandt between 1628 and 1631/2. When Rembrandt left Leiden in 1631/32, Dou stayed behind and continued to live and work there. He...
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