Girl at the Window

Hendrick Martensz. Sorgh (in 1659)

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Niels asked

Hi, in this article the writer suggests that the pot is hanging from the outside wall of the house. https://www.boijmans.nl/en/hidden-treasures
But to me it seems she knocked it off the windowsill, as she rushed to look outside. What do you think?
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Hi Niels, indeed there's no visible hook, so it could be that she knocked it off the windowsill with her ellbow. But my guess would be that it's hanging. It was quite common practice to hang your chamber pot outside (up to the 20th century) and there's also a painting by Claes Hals, in which this is depicted (https://www.sammlung.pinakothek.de/en/artist/nicolaes-hals/hollaendisches-bauernpaar). It was quite common practice to hang your chamber pot outside. Also, in the 17th century (and in previous centuries), there was much complaining about people emptying their chamber pots out the window. Best, Friso Lammertse, Conservator oude kunst

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Specifications

Title	Girl at the Window
Material and technique	Oil on panel
Object type	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Location	This object is in storage

Dimensions	Height 21,1 cm Width 17,8 cm
Artists	Painter: Hendrick Martensz. Sorgh
Accession number	1819 (OK)
Credits	From the estate of J.P. van der Schilden, 1925
Department	Old Masters
Acquisition date	1925
Creation date	in 1659
Collector	Collector / Johannes Pieter van der Schilden
External exhibitions	Boijmans bij de Buren - Ateliergeheimen (2019)
Research	Show research Alma
Material	Panel > Worked wood > Wood > Vegetable material > Organic material > Material > Material and technique Oil > Paint > Artist's material > Material > Material and technique
Object	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Geographical origin	Northern Netherlands > The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe

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All about the artist

Hendrick Martensz. Sorgh

Rotterdam 1609/1611 - Rotterdam 1670

Hendrik Maertensz. Sorgh was a pupil of, successively, David Teniers the younger and Willem Buytewech. Sorgh primarily specialised in peasant interiors and...

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