KALF, Willem
(b. 1619, Rotterdam, d. 1693, Amsterdam)

Woman Pulling Water from a Well

c. 1645
Oil on copper, 27 x 22 cm
Private collection

This painting, depicting a woman pulling water from a well, a pile of vegetables at her feet, is an example of Kalf's Parisian period. The outstanding feature of the painting is the pile of vegetables at the woman's feet, a still-life within a larger genre scene. This corner of the work hints at the skill and precision that characterise the dedicated still-lifes, which Kalf painted later in his career.