This mid-19th-century watercolour by Dutch artist Johannes Engel Masurel (1826-1915) depicts a young lady reading in a kitchen interior littered with vegetables.
Transfixed by the contents of a novel, she’s oblivious to the cluttered environment. A smorgasbord of fresh goods sprawled on cold checkerboard tiles. Onions tumble from an upturned basket while carrots teeter atop a plate of potatoes. Even the lantern hangs askew.
Masurel was obsessed with the old Dutch masters and produced gentle scenes in homage to his forebears. With Gerrit Dou (1613-1675) a particular inspiration. As such, often amid the enchanting brushwork, there’s a richer narrative or moralistic tale.
So perhaps within this jumbled scene, the artist is offering some valuable advice. If you wish to maintain a harmonious relationship, both of you need to cook.
Signed/dated lower left and held within a later frame. Glazed.
Medium: Watercolour on paper
Overall size: 14½” x 12½” / 37cm x 32cm
Year of creation: 1855
Labels & Inscriptions: Artist's biography on reverse.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £4,113
Johannes Engel Masurel trained at the Royal Academy of Art in Amsterdam and also under Jacobus Schomaker Doyer (1792-1867). He’s represented at the Rijksmuseum, Musée d'Orsay, Amsterdam Museum, and the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag.
Learn more about Johannes Engel Masurel in our directory.
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