“The Courtyard of a House in Delft” is an exquisite genre painting by Pieter de Hooch, created circa 1658 during the Baroque art movement. Executed in oil with selective touches of gold on canvas, the artwork measures 57.5 by 68 centimeters and currently resides in a private collection.
The artwork presents a serene domestic scene set in a sunlit courtyard in Delft. The composition skillfully juxtaposes architectural elements with human figures, capturing a moment of daily life in 17th century Netherlands. A young girl, seated in the foreground, cradles a small dog in her lap, while three adults engage in casual conversation under a pergola. The red shuttered doorway and arched brick entrance lead the viewer’s eye through the scene, creating a sense of depth enhanced by the play of light and shadow. The intricate details of the cobbled floor, hanging laundry, and lush greenery imbue the courtyard with a sense of realism and warmth, characteristic of de Hooch’s masterful use of perspective and light.
