Room 15a

See how long it takes to find a brushstroke. Gerrit Dou and the painters known as fijnschilders, or fine painters, worked towards smooth surfaces that concealed the movement of the brush. Their small pictures can look almost enamelled. That finish offers a useful comparison with Rembrandt, whose workshop trained Dou, and with artists who left their strokes clearly visible. Here a fabric, a face or a small object can be described with extraordinary care. Look from a comfortable distance without leaning towards the painting, and let your eye move from the subject to the surface that makes it seem real.