Gerhard Dou

Gerhard Dou, a Dutch painter born on April 7, 1613, in Leiden, was a prominent figure of the Dutch Golden Age. He was a pupil of Rembrandt and became renowned for his meticulous technique and finely detailed genre scenes, often categorized under the Leiden School of fijnschilders, or "fine painters." Dou's work is characterized by its exquisite attention to detail and the use of chiaroscuro, which he adapted from his master. His paintings, such as "The Young Mother" and "The Quack," exemplify his ability to capture domestic interiors and everyday life with remarkable precision. Dou's influence extended to subsequent generations of Dutch painters, and he was highly esteemed during his lifetime, receiving patronage from collectors across Europe. He passed away on February 9, 1675, leaving behind a legacy that solidified his status as a master of genre painting.