The Fortune-Teller — Georges de La Tour

ABOUT THIS WORK

In this captivating scene, a young man, dressed in finery, gazes intently at an elderly fortune-teller. While his attention is fixed on her pronouncements, a trio of women deftly relieve him of his valuables. One woman, with a knowing look, snips a medallion from his chain, while another reaches for his purse. A third, almost imperceptibly, slips a ring from his finger. The artist, Georges de La Tour, masterfully uses light and shadow to heighten the drama, illuminating the faces of the figures and drawing our eyes to the subtle acts of deception. This work exemplifies the Baroque interest in genre scenes, presenting a slice of everyday life with a moralizing undertone, reminding viewers of the dangers of naiveté.

DETAILS

Artist: Georges de La Tour
Date: 1630
Medium: Oil on canvas
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dimensions: 40 1/8 x 48 5/8 in. (101.9 x 123.5 cm)
Collection: European Paintings
Credit line: Rogers Fund, 1960

LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

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01

The reading of the palm

The old woman on the right points toward the young man's open palm while she speaks, her lined face turned up toward him. She clearly leads the exchange.

1 of 4 on the painting

02

The lifted chain

Low in the center, a hand reaches toward the young man's side and draws out a chain, near his dangling tassels. While the old woman talks, the theft goes on.

2 of 4 on the painting

03

The naive young man

The young man in the black cap and pink sleeves gazes off to the side, seemingly unaware of what is happening around him. His fine clothes suggest a wealthy, trusting target for the scheme.

3 of 4 on the painting

04

Sideways glances

The young woman in the white headscarf glances sideways with a calm, knowing expression. She appears to be in on the trick, and her look draws us in as onlookers.

4 of 4 on the painting

05Whole painting

A tight circle of faces

The figures are packed shoulder to shoulder, with the faces set at different heights. Glances and hands pass between them, so the eye moves around the group.

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THE ARTIST