HOOCH, Pieter de
(b. 1629, Rotterdam, d. 1684, Amsterdam)

Mother and Child by a Cradle

c. 1665
Oil on canvas, 54 x 65 cm
Nationalmuseum, Stockholm

Pieter de Hooch developed a highly distinctive style with his depictions of middle-class and aristocratic interiors and sunny courtyards. In his interior scenes the objects are invariably painted with the utmost care, and light and shade are used to create atmosphere and emphasize the perspective.

The present scene seems to be a live account of a mother and child by a cradle with a servant woman standing next to a bed with her back to the viewer. The cooking pot over the fire suggests home and homely activities and underlines the peacefulness of the scene.