Empty Room with a Hearth 1648 - 1650

"Empty Room with a Hearth" is a pen and wash drawing by Cornelis Bega, a Dutch artist known for his detailed depictions of everyday life. Created between 1648 and 1650, the artwork captures the interior of a humble room, emphasizing the simplicity of a 17th-century dwelling. The drawing highlights the wooden beams of the ceiling, the fireplace, and the rough-hewn walls, suggesting a sense of authenticity and domesticity. This work, now part of the Rijksmuseum collection, is a quintessential example of Dutch genre painting and provides valuable insights into the lives of ordinary people during this period.