Old Woman Meditating, Gabriël Metsu, c. 1661 - c. 1663
oil on panel, h 27.3cm × w 23.2cm More details
An elderly woman sits with a book on her lap, having removed her pince-nez. Perhaps she is taking a momentary pause, or has she dozed off? Her pale, wrinkled face, hands, and the white pages stand out against the darkness. Thus Metsu emphasized the subject: the study of devotional texts, with a focus on the transience of life.
