Pinnable

Four centuries ago, Jan Steen (c. 1626–1679) was born, and became the most famous painter from the city of Leiden after Rembrandt. Steen was unique among leading 17th-century Dutch painters for his infectious humour, often depicting scenes of homes in chaos, quack doctors, lovesick girls, and inns full of drunken adults & children running wild. These chaotic scenes are so typical of his work that a ‘Jan Steen household’ is a common saying in Dutch, and it’s not meant as a positive thing. Besides his genre paintings, Steen also made history paintings, exciting stories full of drama & passion, for which he chose subjects from the Bible and classical mythology and other sources.

To celebrate the life & work of the city’s famous son, Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden presents the colourful exhibition At Home with Jan Steen — 400 Years of Merrymaking, which runs until 23 August. Featuring works from De Lakenhal’s own collection as well as masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum and other Dutch museums & private collections, the exhibition offers a surprising glimpse into everyday life in the 17th century, focusing on Steen’s private life & the role of his hometown. Among the highlights in the exhibition are The Feast of St Nicholas, which is considered one of his best works, The Merry Family, depicting a typical Jan Steen household starring Steen himself as a bagpipe player, and The Dancing Lesson, which shows four children, probably Steen’s own, teaching a cat to dance.

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