Farmer Eating Eggs 

Jan Steen painted "Farmer Eating Eggs," using oil on canvas, sometime in the 17th century. Here, Steen turns his keen eye to the everyday life of the Dutch peasantry. Oil paint allowed Steen to build up layers of color and texture, mimicking the roughness of the farmer's clothing and the smoky atmosphere of the room. The composition, with its loose brushwork and focus on mundane details, departs from the idealized scenes of classical history or portraiture. Steen employs a keen understanding of local visual culture, yet skillfully elevates the image of the ordinary, to an art. The painting captures a moment of leisurely consumption, inviting us to consider the socio-economic context of the Dutch Golden Age. While celebrating the fruits of labor, Steen's work reminds us of the social hierarchies that defined the period, and prompts us to think about the value that has been placed in craft and fine art.