19th Century Antique Print, The Eavesdropper, Nicholas Maes,

A wonderful antique print of Nicolaes Maes' iconic painting "The Eavesdropper." 
Nineteenth Century or earlier, from the Netherlands. Framed in a lovely contemporary black frame. Gentle mottling throughout, but the print is crisp and clear. 18" wide by 15" high.

Nicolaes Maes was one of the masters of Dutch golden age painting in the 17th century. 
From the Dordrechts Museum's website:
"Between 1655 and 1657 Maes produced at least six innovative genre scenes with an "eavesdropper" as a protagonist. The present painting is possibly the last of these variations on the theme and the largest and most ambitious work in this series. The company in the upstairs room at the left is waiting to be served and the lady of the house, richly clad in a fur-trimmed red velvet jacket, descends the stairs with an empty wine glass in her left hand. She smiles out at the viewer, her finger raised to her lips cautioning for silence. She has spotted her maidservant on a lower level being seduced by a man and thus neglecting her duties. The viewer is directly involved in the scenario, and even made an accomplice to it."