Antoon François Heijligers, born in 1828, was an artist who very directly sought his inspiration in the Dutch genre paintings of the 17th century. In particular, his finely painted interior houses and figure pieces are reminiscent of the work of Pieter de Hooch in terms of atmosphere and subject. In the use of colour and the elaboration of the figures, he shows himself to be an independent and skilled painter. Heijligers was born in the Dutch East Indies and subsequently lived and worked mainly in Geertruidenberg, Brussels and The Hague.