An Acrylic on canvas of the frontal façade of a Dutch ‘hofje

A delicate modern acrylic on canvas of the frontal façade of a Dutch ‘hofje’, a courtyard encircled by almshouses. Hofje functioned much like an early example of the welfare state, providing housing for elderly people, especially women. They were often funded by the church or private individuals and served as a form of social security. We can see a small figure to the left of the foreground, slightly bent, implying their age and perhaps that they are inspecting their verdant flower beds.

 Underneath the frame there is a small inscription saying ‘Beestenmarkt’, a large square in Delft, in the western Netherlands. This sweet picture is set in an impressive deep-set frame that contrasts handsomely with this sentimental domestic snapshot.