Young Girl with Still Life

Attracting attention early in his career for his many kitchen and market scenes, the work of Van Schooten provides a perfect example of the Dutch tradition of painting real life. Here he depicts a young woman before a laden table. Frontally positioned and strictly parallel to the painting’s frame, the white tablecloth–covered table is seen from above, enabling the viewer to admire all the objects and foodstuffs. In this simple composition, the contrast between the predominantly orangey red palette of colours and the dark background lends an indisputable presence to the woman gazing steadily at us.