Old Woman Reading, Probably the Prophetess Anna

Unknown artist

1631

oil on panel

Rijksmuseum

An elderly woman wearing a head covering and a red robe reads a large, open book. Her face is illuminated by a light source from the left. Here the light comes from behind the old woman: the brightest illumination falls on the book and her wrinkled hand, modelled with paint. Her face remains in shadow. She could be the prophetess Anna, an elderly widow who, according to the Bible, served God through fasting and prayer. Tradition has it that Rembrandt’s mother posed for this painting.