 De Hooch painted the present work during his time in Amsterdam (starting in 1660), where he specialised in depicting the style of home furnishings and life typical of the city’s well-situated citizens. Despite the presence of a serving maid, the elegantly clad mother is caring personally for her infant; she does not waste money on a wet-nurse. Across the spotless tile floor, we look into a second room at the back, then through the half-open door to a house on a canal and the city beyond. A fire is burning on the hearth, providing a colourful accent that recurs in the infant’s clothing and the sunlit view. In a similarly rhythmic fashion, the red of the fabric drying on the hearth is repeated at several points in the picture, giving the composition a balance of colour. This scene makes clear the understanding of (ideal) roles at the time: attentive childcare and a well-run household are a woman’s province.