Two Lovers at Table

Sorgh worked in Rotterdam and specialised in peasant scenes. This is one of a pair of paintings - the other is 'A Woman playing Cards with Two Peasants' (also in the National Gallery Collection) - which illustrate ways in which women can make fools of men. Here, the procuress behind the door on the left will make the man pay dearly for the young woman's favours.

The panel was probably cut down to an oval after it was painted.