Master and Maid 1709

"Master and Maid" (1709) by Abraham van der Eyk depicts a scene of domestic life, likely in a wealthy household. The painting portrays a young man, possibly a musician, seated at a table with a violin and other musical instruments while a maid pours him a drink. The composition emphasizes the social hierarchy between the two figures, placing the master in a position of leisure and the maid in a subordinate role. This work exemplifies the genre of genre painting, which flourished in the Dutch Golden Age and aimed to capture everyday life, often with social commentary. The small-scale nature of the painting, typical of Van der Eyk's style, suggests it was intended for a private collection. The painting is now housed at the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.