Public domain
Woman at the Meal, Known as ‘The Cat’s Breakfast’
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
A woman of humble origin shares her meal with a cat. In the 17th century it was not unusual to consume herring with bread (and beer!) for breakfast. Due to ageing, the yellow pigment in the stems of the flowers in the vase has disappeared, turning the original green colour blue.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionCredit lineVrouw aan de maaltijd, bekend als ‘Het ontbijt van de kat’. c. 1661 - c. 1664. Gabriël Metsu. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
