Old Woman Chopping Onions

Old Woman Chopping Onions is a fine example of Dou's genre work. It embodies many of the artistic conventions that he employed in such works. The top of the painting is a rounded arch, and the old woman is observed through a niche, perhaps a window opening. This helps to create the trompe l'oeil effect of a frame within a frame and gives the viewer a sharper focus on the subject. In some works, Dou would place a niche in the painting, out of which an artist would look, commenting on the painting from within. The use of the candle as a central element in the painting serves two purposes. It may be seen within the context of the iconography of the vanitas painting. The burning candle was a classical symbol for the passage of time, and, coupled with the age of the woman it is a reminder of the transitoriness of human existence. It also provides an example of the influence on Dou, and other Dutch artists, of light as explored by Caravaggio. The use of a central source of light, illuminating some objects while shrouding others in shadow, allowed Dou to create a truly mysterious painting. His use of dark colors enhance this air of mystery.