Woman Selling Herrings 1675 - 1680

Godfried Schalcken painted “Woman Selling Herrings” in the Dutch Republic using oil on wood. Schalcken was a master of light, a skill he certainly deployed in this small painting, capturing the sheen of the fish scales. It's interesting to consider the material qualities of this everyday scene. The rough texture of the wooden bucket contrasts with the smooth skin of the fish, rendered by Schalcken’s skilled hand. The artist's mastery is evident in his ability to depict such varied surfaces, from the soft fabric of the woman’s headscarf to the metallic glint of her earring. The image, though small, speaks to the economic realities of 17th-century Holland, where trade in goods like herring sustained many working-class families. Schalcken elevates a humble subject with his painterly skill, reminding us that artistic value can be found in the most ordinary materials and occupations.