As the Old Sang, so Pipe the Young 1638

Curator: Here we have Jacob Jordaens' "As the Old Sang, so Pipe the Young," painted in 1638. It presents a bustling family scene rendered in oil on canvas. What are your first thoughts? Editor: Chaotic! There's so much activity vying for attention: instruments, food, expressions of various ages. I'm struck by the lack of conventional beauty; everyone is realistically... imperfect. Curator: Indeed. The title itself points to the continuity of tradition and the way values are transmitted across generations. Musicality serves here as a metaphor. Look closely; the phrase “Soo d’oude songen, soo pepen de jonge” is inscribed in the painting itself. Editor: The dog reaching for the food on the table feels very much like it should be the central focus of the entire painting. The dog feels at the margins both visually and conceptually. But I wonder about the power dynamics within this seemingly merry scene. Note how women are centered within a very patriarchal time. Curator: Observe how carefully Jordaens uses specific iconographic symbols related to age. The older generation represents the wisdom of experience but is shown here, perhaps, as struggling to maintain its grasp, represented here by their poor vision. Editor: I find the lack of idealization almost subversive. It flies in the face of typical portrayals during that period. In positioning art this way, this almost operates as early photography. Do we even understand the socio-economic reality? Is it merely a glimpse into upper middle class norms? Curator: Possibly. It's a moralizing genre scene intended to provoke consideration of values—the rewards and shortcomings of tradition and how they relate. This symbolism transcends time. We always inherit certain baggage as well as certain advantages from past practices and conventions. Editor: Thinking about the "baggage" here I also sense a hint of generational tension—the youthful energy contrasted with the established order. A dog devouring food is probably another moral parable about class tensions in Europe. It does make me wonder how different contemporary depictions of families and inheritance will be perceived centuries from now. Curator: It really highlights how representations can change over time while simultaneously demonstrating something elemental about intergenerational influence and exchange. It's always exciting to witness these old scenes speak to us from the past and teach about our cultural continuity and memory. Editor: Ultimately, I leave this image pondering what truly carries across time, what fractures, and what biases inform our perception. I hope it has helped others reflect on family as a vehicle for change.