Man Handing a Letter to a Woman in the Entrance Hall of a House

Pieter de Hooch, 1670

All the windows and doors of this canal house are open. Daylight falls on the lady of the house, who is receiving a letter. With lighting effects and figures, De Hooch leads our gaze outside. We follow the dog to the canal and to a child playing with a whip, and beyond towards the sunny street on the opposite side. The view continues through the gate on the right.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-C-147
  • Dimensionsheight 68 cm x width 59 cm
  • Physical characteristicsoil on canvas

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Pieter de Hooch

An artist who transformed light and space into poetry

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Identification

  • Title(s)

    Man Handing a Letter to a Woman in the Entrance Hall of a House

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-C-147

  • Description

    Het aanreiken van een brief in een voorhuis. In een vertrek bij het raam zit een vrouw met een hondje op schoot. Rechts nadert een man met een brief in de hand. Links staat een hond en zicht door de openstaande deur naar buiten, waar op straat aan een gracht (Kloveniersburgwal?), een kind met een zweepje speelt.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    signature and date: ‘P. de hooch. f. 1670.’

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Pieter de Hooch

  • Dating

    1670

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on canvas

  • Dimensions

    height 68 cm x width 59 cm

This work is about

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    On loan from the City of Amsterdam (A. van der Hoop Bequest)

  • Copyright

    Public domain

Documentation

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