The kitchen maid

The kitchen maid fits within the tradition of 16th century market and kitchen pieces as painted by Pieter Aertsen and Joachim Bueckelaer. Similar to his predecessors, Wtewael added a religious scene in the background. Here, it is the story of Christ visiting the house of Mary and St Martha. Bueckelaer painted the same composition in 1574 and it appears that Wtewael used it as an example.