'The Anemic Lady' 1660 - 1678

Samuel van Hoogstraten's 'The Anemic Lady' (1660-1678) depicts a young woman seated with a doctor examining a vial held above her head. This genre painting, created during the Dutch Golden Age, is characterized by its focus on everyday life and the realistic portrayal of people and their surroundings. The painting, housed in the Rijksmuseum, showcases van Hoogstraten's mastery of light and shadow, as seen in the way the light falls on the figures and the details of the interior setting. The woman's pale complexion and the doctor's serious expression contribute to the painting's overall sense of concern and the somber mood. The inclusion of a cat in the foreground adds a touch of whimsy to the otherwise somber scene.