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A Milkmaid

Creator

Dutch Artist · 1620–1691

Aelbert Cuyp's paintings are said to be "enveloped in the atmosphere as if imprisoned in pale amber." From a family of painters in the river town of Dordrecht, Cuyp probably learned his craft from his father. After his father's death in 1651 and his mother's three years later, Cuyp inherited considerable property and became a leading citizen in town affairs. In 1658 he married a rich widow and his

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Date: about 1642–1646
Medium: Black chalk, graphite, gray wash
Culture: Dutch
Department: Drawings
Institution: Getty Museum

A young milkmaid stares saucily over her shoulder, engaging the viewer with her direct gaze. As she squats on the ground, she holds a large container between her knees and easily squirts in the milk. Aelbert Cuyp focused on the milkmaid's youthful charm, using only a few lines to suggest the large body of the cow looming in the background. With a rich mixture of chalk and wash and making liberal use of the white paper, he emphasized the play of sunlight and shadow over the female form. The creases on her sleeves and skirt fold softly around her body, emphasizing her sturdy frame beneath. Cuyp probably made this drawing shortly before beginning a painting of the same subject. This work was so successful that Cuyp's students copied it several times.

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