Figures in a Courtyard behind a House
Pieter de Hooch
c. 1663 - c. 1665
In the shelter of the shade, a woman squeezes the juice of a lemon into her glass, while her companion attempts to draw her attention. Perhaps she wants to keep a cool head: in the 17th century it was believed that lemons could calm intense infatuation. Two maidservants bustle about: one is serving drinks, while the other is scrubbing a kettle.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam · Image: Rijksmuseum, Public domain · Text: Rijksmuseum, CC0