The Woman with the Pear

Ferdinand Bol

National Gallery of Art

The image displays the upper half of a woman behind a windowsill. She is leaning forward with her arms on the ledge. Her face is center, looking outward, with a gentle expression and soft facial features. Her hair is covered by a hood, likely part of a headscarf. She wears a dark, loose-fitting garment with voluminous sleeves and a low neckline, layered with other clothing. In her left hand, she holds a small purse by a string, and her right hand rests on a piece of fabric on the ledge. She wears a thin necklace and the background is dark, with a partly open wooden shutter beside her.