The Harpsichord Lesson
1660 - 1669
Jan Steen, a master of the Dutch Golden Age, loved to capture the messy, humorous realities of everyday life, and this domestic scene is a perfect example. An older gentleman leans in eagerly to instruct a young woman at her harpsichord, but his intense focus and the key hanging conspicuously on the wall hint at a playful, perhaps even flirtatious, subtext typical of Steen's work. The rich textures of the man's worn vest and the woman's shimmering skirt bring the 17th-century interior to life, inviting viewers to wonder what kind of lesson is really being taught here.
- Technique
- Oil painting
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