Muzeum Narodowe, Poznan, Poland
The painting depicts three young women (girls) gathered around a chessboard with an older appearing woman looking on. The two girls in the utmost foreground appear to be playing each other in the chess game. The girl on the left, the tallest one, is staring straight at the viewer and smiling. The girl on the right, middle height, is looking at the girl on the left and has her hand raised, perhaps conceding the game or questioning a move. The way her mouth is represented suggests that she is speaking. The question of why the girl on the right has her ...