HOOH Pieter de (Hooch Pieter de)

(1629-1684)
Born in Rotterdam in 1629, was a pupil of Nicholas Berhema of Haarlem. In 1652 he settled in Delft, and in 1655 joined the guild of St.. Luke. In 1660-1661 he moved to Amsterdam and lived there until his death in 1684.
The early works of Pieter de Hooha - scenes in the taverns, which are the main actors peasants and soldiers. Since the late 1650-ies, he began to write neat, light-filled interiors and scenes in the yard with the characters involved in daily activities or entertaining. His interest in perspective and spatial organization of tracks, perhaps, arose under the influence of works of Delft artists who wrote the architectural forms and church interiors. People, stiff and almost immobile, does not occupy a central place in the paintings of masters, and they just fill up and enliven the interiors depicted by the artist. Palette de Hooha consists primarily of muted brown tones with the addition of primary colors. A fine-tuned black and white and color relationships heightens the illusion of space and facilitates the transfer of experience air. A favorite compositional device de Hooha - view from the window or through a doorway at the opening behind the space, another room or patio. Among the best works of Pieter de Hooha - paintings Yard (1658, London, National Gallery), Mistress and maid (s. 1660, St. Petersburg, Hermitage), the mother at the cradle (ca. 1660, Berlin - Dahlem).

After moving to Amsterdam about 1660 works of de Hooha became more decorative and impressive, they depict the elegant characters in wealthy homes. As an example, Family Portrait (1663, Cleveland Art Museum).