Portrait of the Artist's Mother
Gerrit Dou·1651
Historical Context
Dou's Portrait of the Artist's Mother from around 1651 is a quietly intimate work among his typically more elaborate genre compositions. Such familial portraits demonstrate that Dou, despite his fame for technically demanding display pieces, maintained the capacity for simple, direct portraiture. The identity as his mother — if correct — adds a personal dimension to what would otherwise be a genre study of an elderly woman.
Technical Analysis
The elderly woman is shown in three-quarter view with the direct, slightly weathered face modeling that Dou brings to his less idealized figures. His precise technique renders the textures of aged skin and simple cloth with the same concentrated attention he gives to his more elaborate compositions.
