Jan Havickszoon Steen lived and painted during the Dutch Golden Age. Jan’s family brewed ale and operated a small tavern in the south of Holland. His father eventually leased him a tavern of his own, though he never quite got the hang of running the business. He operated several taverns in his life, all of which were unsuccessful, though they seem to have at least informed the content of many of his paintings.
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Steen went on to study painting under the famous landscape artist Jan Van Goyen, though not much is known about his time in apprenticeship. Despite Steen’s passion for art (and his productivity as an artist), he was unlucky to have lived through difficult times. 1672 in Holland is the year of disaster, a challenging economic period due to war and other socio-economic challenges. Suffice it to say, the art market was depressed as a result and throughout most of Steen’s life.
The content of Jan Steen’s paintings focuses almost entirely on group scenes that come alive with action and excitement. I love the playful spirit of his pieces, especially “Rhetoricians at a Window” and “The Dancing Couple.” To me, his work evokes a warm, lighthearted comfort. How fun would it have been to sit in the corner in Jan Steen’s tavern? Interestingly, there is a Dutch proverb, which translates to “a Jan Steen household,” or a living space that is chaotic and messy. To me, there is something uniquely comforting about the hustle and bustle of a warm, firelit hole in the ground to share a stiff drink with friends. Steen appreciated this too and immortalized the feeling in his rambunctious paintings.
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October 21, 2021 at 6:53 pm
Chris,
This is exactly what I’m looking for in these blog posts! Rich information and background combined with fine writing with humorous and insightful personal thoughts. Very enjoyable to read your work so please keep it up. I’ve given you 2/2 in your first two posts so well done!
Jeff