Rijksmuseum

Old Woman Meditating

Date

c. 1661 - c. 1663

Medium

panel, oil paint (paint)

Institution

Rijksmuseum

An elderly woman sits with a book on her lap, having removed her pince-nez. Perhaps she is taking a momentary pause, or has she dozed off? Her pale, wrinkled face, hands, and the white pages stand out against the darkness. Thus Metsu emphasized the subject: the study of devotional texts, with a focus on the transience of life.

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