# Old Woman Reading

- By: Gerrit Dou (Leiden, 1613–1675)
- Date: c. 1631 - c. 1632
- Medium: panel, oil paint (paint)
- Classification: painting
- Dimensions: frame: height 85.3 cm x width 69.5 cm x depth 5.8 cm
- Credit line: A.H. Hoekwater Bequest, The Hague
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/SK-A-2627--be2f43ac209a0907437f4297b8dcd924)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/KzwJs/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

The book is rendered in such detail that it is easy to see what the woman is reading: the beginning of chapter 19 of the Gospel of Luke. The passage states that those who wish to do good must give away half of all they own to the poor. The old woman’s expensive clothing contrasts sharply with this message: she is still attached to worldly possessions.