The Love Letter 1670

Jacob Ochtervelt's "The Love Letter" (1670) depicts a young woman seated in an interior, reading a love letter while a maid attends to her hair. The intimate scene, rendered in rich detail, is a hallmark of Dutch genre painting. The woman's elegant attire and the presence of a small dog, a symbol of fidelity, suggest a romantic context. Ochtervelt masterfully captures the nuances of light and shadow, creating a sense of depth and realism in the composition. The artwork, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, is a testament to the Dutch Golden Age's artistic mastery and its focus on everyday life.