Dutch school: The riddle of Nijmegen, oil on panel, 17th C.

Dutch school: The riddle of Nijmegen, oil on panel, 17th C. Work: 62,5 x 47 cm Frame: 76 x 60 cm The panel most possibly cradled in 1971 (see the note on the back). A similar painting hangs in the town hall of Nijmegen, hence the title. However, it is not certain that Nijmegen is the city of origin of the riddle. The riddle is also known as "The Riddle of the Young Woman, the Old Man, and Their Six Sons." The woman is the mother of six sons, four of whom are her uncles. The wife of the old man speaks (link): Remark and see that I declare: The two in red are my father's brothers. The two in green are my mother's brothers.The two in white are my children and I, the mother, am married to the father of these six. That no degree of kinship can forbid.' Two two sons in red say:'We would have regrettedif our niece had been given to our fatherBecause she is not our father's nieceWhich nobody would easily guess.' The two in green say:'It is remarkable to show in these figuresthat he is our natural fatherAnd has married our nieceWhich we don't regret.' The two in white say:'Our father is the old man.Our mother is the young lady.But tell us how it is possibleThat our brothers are our mother's uncles?' For the solution to the riddle, click here.