Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn: An Old Woman Reading, Probably the Prophetess Hannah

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands)

This portrait of an old woman is probably his mother Neeltgen Willemsdr van Zuydtbroeck. Like Caravaggio, Rembrandt uses the light in a dramatic way. In this painting the light comes is from behind the woman. The glow illuminates the book in her hand while her face remains in the shadow. A nice example of the usage of light by Rembrandt. Painting from 1631.