The Proposition

The Proposition shows a man standing at left, leaning toward a seated woman who wears a white, voluminous chemise over a dark blue‑green skirt, as he rests a hand on her shoulder and she holds a small object in her hands. A table with a candle and candleholder sits nearby, with the candlelight casting warm highlights on their faces and clothing while the background remains dark and subdued. The scene is rendered in a naturalistic Dutch Golden Age style, using a restrained palette of browns, blacks, and blues and a careful handling of fabrics and expressions to convey an intimate, morally suggestive moment.