Woman scouring metalware 1650 - 1660

Jan Steen's "Woman scouring metalware" (c. 1650-1660) depicts a woman in a domestic setting engaged in the everyday task of cleaning metalware. The composition, characteristic of Dutch genre painting, focuses on the intimate details of domestic life and the interplay between light and shadow. The scene highlights the woman's focused attention on her work, her posture and expression conveying a sense of quiet industry. The presence of everyday objects like the wooden tub, utensils, and a lantern, adds to the realism and authenticity of the painting.