Genre painting

Genre

Genre paintings, drawings or prints depict people in their everyday surroundings: at home, in a café or at work. They appear to be painted from life, but in reality were usually thought up in the artist's studio. Sometimes (but not always!) they contain a moral lesson. In some works the message is clear, in other cases the viewer has to make an effort to interpret the picture. Often, however, these household scenes are simply decorative paintings designed to entertain and amuse.