ARCH1201- Project 2: Room & Narrative (Painting Analysis)

Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid

c. 1670
Oil on Panel
72.2X59.7cm
National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin

Main theme: Revealing the universal within the domain of the commonplace

• Division
• Separation
• Disconnection
• Inner restlessness
• Boredom
  

Sub-theme: Relationship between two women belonging to different social classes (the writing mistress and her attending maid)

Further understanding of the painting

- Two women face different directions

- The maid looks out of the window away from her mistress, with an attempt to isolate herself from the uncomfortable situation while her mistress is emotionally involved in the response to a letter

- Both women remain divided both on the picture plane and in thought

- Though both figures are in close proximity, their contours converge but never touch

- The maid gazes towards the half-visible window; indicates an inner restlessness and boredom

Lighting

The lighting from the window on the side pours in an mainly focuses on the mistress who is writing at her desk. The other parts of the painting are quite dark, thus our attention focuses on the mistress, who appears to be more important. The sunlight directly reflects off her light coloured clothing and illuminates the scene.