Celebrating the Birth
1664
Jan Steen was the master of painting chaotic, lively households, and this birth celebration is a perfect example. While the exhausted new mother rests in bed on the left, the rest of the room has descended into joyful madness—guests are feasting and scattering eggshells across the checkered floor, a traditional sign of fertility and celebration. In the center, a proud father holds up the swaddled newborn for everyone to admire, seemingly oblivious to the clutter around him.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
Location: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
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