This early 20th-century oil painting by Dutch artist Jacob Dooijewaard (1876-1969) depicts a girl mending clothes before a haberdashery.
Within the dark environs of a gently-lit rustic interior, a peasant girl sits to work. Her form partially obscured in the shadows with the arch of her back prominently illuminated. Occasionally, the creak of a wooden chair breaks the silence, while echoing her movements. It’s a celebration of solemnity. A quiet moment of everyday craft.
Dooijewaard was highly-trained and his interior scenes are rooted in the rich Dutch tradition. He would’ve been acutely aware of the 17th-century masters, such as Pieter De Hooch and Johannes Vermeer. Paying homage, yet channelling his influences through contemporary relatable subjects.
Signed in the lower right and framed.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 15½” x 16” / 40cm x 41cm
Year of creation: c. 1900
Provenance: Private collection, Holland.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Fine craquelure but the paint is stable. Canvas slightly undulant. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £3,600
Jacob Dooijewaard was an accomplished Dutch painter of genre scenes, landscapes, cityscapes, still lifes and portraits. He trained at three institutions in Amsterdam and his works are held in numerous public collections including the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp. He was close friends with the American artist William Henry Singer, Jr. (1868-1943) and his wife Anna Brugh, the founders of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. His brother, Willem Dooijewaard (1892-1980), was also an artist.
Learn more about Jacob Dooijewaard in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work.
