The Daydreamer 1650 - 1660

Nicolaes Maes' "The Daydreamer" (1650 - 1660) is a captivating depiction of a young woman lost in contemplation. Seated at a window, she rests her head on her hand, her eyes gazing out at an unseen scene, a single peach tree branch with ripe fruit suggesting a setting of domesticity. Maes, known for his refined portraiture, utilizes a soft, subdued palette and masterful use of light to convey the woman's pensive mood, embodying the genre of "tronie," a popular Dutch style that focused on expressive faces.