Dissolute Household 1664

jansteen

Apsley House, (Wellington Museum), London, UK

character portrait

sculpture

charcoal drawing

possibly oil pastel

charcoal art

oil painting

portrait head and shoulder

underpainting

painting painterly

charcoal

"Dissolute Household" by Jan Steen, painted in 1664, is a vibrant depiction of a chaotic scene in a Dutch household. The painting, now housed in London's Apsley House, features a group of individuals engaged in various activities, including smoking, playing music, and eating. This genre painting, typical of Steen's work, offers a glimpse into the daily life of the Dutch middle class. The painting's vivid detail and humorous portrayal of the scene's chaos makes it a popular example of Dutch genre painting, which explores the human condition through everyday life.