Jan Steen

From the series Dutch Masters

Jan Steen’s paintings touch the viewer directly. The infectious humour and recognizable characters are enormously appealing. He painted with visible ease and his pictures exude a sense of energy.

Proverbial

Cheerful paintings of disorderly families gave rise to the saying ‘a Jan Steen household.’

The Merry Family Jan Havicksz Steen (1626-1679), oil on canvas, 1668

Children Teaching a Cat to Dance, Known as The Dancing Lesson

Comic painter

Jan Steen is without a doubt the most humorous Dutch artist.

Children Teaching a Cat to Dance, Known as The Dancing Lesson Jan Havicksz Steen (c. 1625-1679), oil on panel, 1660-1679

Keen observer

Steen’s characterization of the personages in his paintings is spot on. Moreover, no one could depict human behaviour more aptly than Steen.

Family scene

Hard-working buffoon

Jan Steen ran a brewery for many years. In addition, he managed to produce an impressive oeuvre counting hundreds of paintings.

Prince’s Day Jan Havicksz Steen (c. 1625–1679), oil on panel, c. 1660–1679

Instruction and entertainment

While Steen’s paintings are entertaining they often also contain a wise lesson. Steen portrays human folly and its consequences without coming across as pedantic.

The Drunken Couple Jan Havicksz Steen (c. 1625–1679), oil on panel, c. 1655–1665

Self-mockery

Steen often included himself in his compositions, mostly in questionable roles, for example as a drunken rake. Thanks to his self-portrait in the Rijksmuseum, he is easily recognizable by his squinting eyes and large fleshy nose.

Self-portrait Jan Havicksz Steen (c. 1625–1679), oil on canvas, c. 1670

Interior of an inn with an old man amusing himself with the landlady and two men playing backgammon, known as 'Two kinds of games'

Smutty humour

Many of Steen's paintings are about intoxication and lust. These scenes are often full of obscene references.

Interior of an inn with an old man amusing himself with the landlady and two men playing backgammon, known as 'Two kinds of games'

Baker’s Couple Arent Oostwaard and Catharina Keizerswaard

A versatile master

Steen was versed in all genres and painted biblical and mythological subjects, historical events, allegories, genre scenes, portraits and landscapes. Only still lifes by him are not known; however, many of his paintings feature still life-like details, and so clearly he could do that as well.

Baker’s Couple Arent Oostwaard and Catharina Keizerswaard Jan Havicksz Steen (c. 1625–1679), oil on panel, 1658

The most Steens

Of all the museums in the world, the Rijksmuseum has the most paintings by Steen, 22 in all.

A couple drinking

Famous paintings

The Feast of St Nicholas in the Rijksmuseum is one of Jan Steen's most famous paintings.

The Feast of St Nicholas Jan Havicksz Steen (c. 1625–1679), oil on canvas, 1665–1668