Two Women at a Window
c. 1655–1660 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
This oil on canvas painting depicts two women—a younger woman leaning on a sill and an older woman hiding a laugh behind a shawl—positioned at an open window. It is a masterpiece of Spanish Golden Age genre painting, characterized by naturalism and a masterful use of light and shadow.
Did you know?
While long thought to be a simple genre scene, some art historians have suggested that these women may be 'courtesans' or 'prostitutes' beckoning to passersby, a common trope in the literature and street life of 17th-century Seville. The play between the flirtatious younger woman and the stifled laughter of the older chaperone creates a captivating, ambiguous narrative that invites the viewer into the scene. It remains one of Murillo's most enigmatic and beloved works due to this psychological depth.
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Two Women at a Window
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, c. 1655–1660
