Dutch School, late 17th – early 18th century. Scene with Cook Peeling Apples

Dutch School, late 17th – early 18th century
Scene with Cook Peeling Apples
Oil on canvas, 32 x 26.5 cm
20th-century “a cassetta” frame in black-painted and gilt wood
(48 x 42 cm with frame)

The composition shows a woman seated on the ground, peeling apples with a small knife. She wears a white head covering, a light apron, and a long skirt in a reddish-brown tone. To her left is a terracotta bowl containing apples already scored or peeled, with more fruit scattered on the beaten-earth floor. The background is defined by vertical wooden slats and a shallow niche containing a few household objects.

The restrained and anecdote-free composition belongs to the tradition of late 17th-century Dutch genre painting, focused on domestic life and everyday virtues. The lighting is soft and even, lacking dramatic contrast: the figure emerges gradually from a warm, uniform ground, consistent with the luminous treatment found in interiors of the Delft and Haarlem schools.

This small-scale work conveys a quiet, intimate atmosphere and reflects the Northern European appreciation for modesty, order, and diligent domestic labor.

On the reverse of the stretcher, a hand-painted inscription (K.E.18 S.4) is visible, likely referring to an earlier inventory or archival system, possibly of German or Northern European origin.

Condition report: good; the canvas is stable, with uniform patina and no visible recent restorations.