Jan Steen 1632-1675. Rijksmuseum Dossier

Jan Steen can surely be said to be one of the most amusing painters of the seventeenth century. His paintings reveal a keen interest in scenes from day to day life, weddings and feasts, to the celebration of St Nicholas and the Epiphany and never without a comical note. He is also, however, a superb painter with a unique technique and remarkable methods of working. This publication discusses the many works by Jan Steen in the Rijksmuseum, and leads on to explore his entire œuvre. Besides his work the book also describes his life, his self-image and his reputation. The elusive Jan Steen was more than just a comedian and the colloquial symbol of a disorderly household; he was also a connoisseur of art and theatre and well educated in the stories of classical mythology and the bible. Forty-five of Steen's finest works have been carefully selected to exemplify both the exceptionally wide range and superb quality of his work. A gifted and entertaining painter, Jan Steen deserves the fullest praise.
Jan Steen is best known for his paintings of ambiguous scenes set in inns or of doctors visiting patients. But he also painted sensitive portraits, depicting the upper classes with great skill, as well as religious and mythological scenes.