An Old Woman Bleeding a Young Woman, known as 'The Bloodletting'

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An Old Woman Bleeding a Young Woman, known as 'The Bloodletting'

Quiringh van Brekelenkam
c.c.1660

562 - zaal 14

Brekelenkam specialised in the subject of ordinary people going about their daily business. Here, he painted an elderly woman bleeding a younger woman. She is using heated pottery cups, which is why she is called a ‘cupper’. Bleeding was supposed to help prevent miscarriages – so the young woman may be pregnant.

oil on panel
47.9 x 36.7 cm.
Bequest A. Bredius, The Hague, 1946