The artwork, titled “Interior with a Mother delousing her Child,” was created by Pieter de Hooch around the year 1660. Rendered in oil on canvas, this piece belongs to the Baroque art movement. Measuring 61 by 52.5 centimeters, the painting falls under the genre of interior scenes and is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork portrays an intimate domestic scene, capturing a moment of tender care between a mother and her child. The mother, seated near a window, is engaged in the act of delousing her child’s hair, a common yet somewhat private activity of the time. The scene is set in a modest, warmly lit room, with soft light streaming in from an adjacent room, further enhancing the sense of quiet intimacy. The meticulous attention to detail, from the tiled floor to the basket and wooden furniture, reflects Pieter de Hooch’s skill in depicting the serene simplicity of everyday life. The presence of a small dog, seated patiently in the foreground, adds to the homely atmosphere. The masterful use of light and shadow, coupled with the composition’s balanced structure, exemplifies the Baroque style’s emphasis on realism and emotional depth.
