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GERRIT DOU (LEIDEN 1613-LEIDEN 1675)
A Girl chopping Onions
RCIN 406358
The effect of light in this early work is extraordinary, reminding us that painting fine detail does not need to be dry or mechanical. There are elements in this image – the hanging bird and empty bird-cage – which might have been understood as alluding to the girl’s loss of virginity and thus availability.
Acquired by George IV in 1814
Cat. 3
