Merry Company on a Terrace

Jan Steen · ca. 1670

Artist: Jan Steen Dutch, Leiden 1626–1679 Leiden
Date: ca. 1670
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 55 1/2 x 51 3/4 in. (141 x 131.4 cm)
Where to see it: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Fletcher Fund, 1958 · CC0 Public Domain · The Met · see it at the museum ↗

Slow Look

The whole picture Let your eyes wander. Where do they want to rest?
The light Find the brightest spot. What is it showing you?
The edges Look at what is half cut off at the borders.
One small detail Choose one tiny thing and stay with it for a while.
The whole picture again Step back. Has it changed for you?

About Jan Steen

Jan Havickszoon Steen was a Dutch Golden Age painter, one of the leading genre painters of the 17th century. His works are known for their psychological insight, sense of humour and abundance of colour. Their satire also mocks the behavior and attitudes of the Dutch bourgeoisie.

Painter profile →