Kitchen Scene 1560 - 1565

Pieter Aertsen painted this kitchen scene, measuring 92 by 215 centimeters, sometime before his death in 1575. The painting presents a highly detailed vision of the food available in the markets of the Netherlands in the 16th century. As an art historian, I can tell you that this is no straightforward celebration of everyday life. In the 1500s, the Netherlands was experiencing a period of economic prosperity. Aertsen’s painting might be seen as a reflection of this new affluence. At the same time, religious reformers were beginning to critique what they saw as excessive materialism. Aertsen’s painting may represent a moral critique of gluttony and earthly pleasures. To understand Aertsen’s painting, it is useful to consider the cultural meanings that people attached to food in the 16th century. The historian can use resources like cookbooks, sermons, and market records to interpret such images.