Pieter de Hooch’s painting from 1658 depicts a mother holding a baby on her lap while a small child stands beside her. The artwork falls into the genre of painting that focused on the virtues of motherhood and domestic skills. Known for its clarity of perspective and light harmony, the painting is kept in a private collection.
The artwork is small in size and portrays finely detailed observations of everyday life. De Hooch shares common styles and themes with his contemporary Jan Vermeer, as well as other Delft artists like Carel Fabritius and Johannes Vermeer. The painting falls within the artistic movement that flourished in the third quarter of the 17th century, celebrating motherhood and domesticity.
Overall, Pieter de Hooch’s painting captures everyday family life in a serene and intimate moment. Through the mother’s care for her children, the painting evokes the value society placed on domestic skills and motherhood during the seventeenth century.
