The Drunken Couple
c. 1655 - c. 1665
Jan Steen loved painting chaotic, messy households, and this scene is a perfect example of his signature humor. A woman has passed out cold on a bench, her shoe kicked off, while a man beside her laughs uproariously, clutching a wine glass. In the background, a woman peeks from an upper bunk, and two men enter through a doorway, seemingly ready to join the party. Steen often used these scenes as moral warnings about the dangers of excessive drinking, though they're so entertaining it's easy to miss the lesson. A cat sits calmly amidst the scattered coins and debris, completely unfazed by the human folly around it.
Location: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
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