Gabriel Metsu's Woman Reading a Letter created in 1664-6 and Johannes Vermeer's Woman Writing a Letter, with her Maid created in 1670-71. Metsu's has a much brighter color palette while Vermeer's colors are darker. Both women are positioned similarly in each painting as the maids are standing while the other women are sitting. Metsu's rendering has the woman reading a letter, though, while Vermeer's woman is depicted writing her letter. The composition of both paintings is very similar since all figures are positioned in front of large paintings and sitting next to windows. However, Vermeer's woman is seated at a table while the other is simply sitting in her chair.

On page 172, we see Gerard ter Borch's Young WOman with a Solider and an Onlooker created in 1650. In this genre painting, there are two men and a woman. One of the men is passed out on the table, most likely from drinking a little too much while the other man looks on with a smirk on his face probably laughing at this man's inability to stay awake. The woman is pouring another drink also looking merry. There is a similar scene by Frans van Mieris titled Brothel Scene created in 1658-9. Like ter Borch's, van Mieris painted a woman pouring wine into a glass in front of a man slumped over a table sleeping. However, in van Mieris's the woman and man are conversing and she seems to be serving him, but in ter Borch's, the woman could be serving herself.