Singer with a Lute 1641 - 1679

"Singer with a Lute" is a 17th-century oil painting by Dutch Golden Age master Jan Steen. The painting, which is currently housed in the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, depicts a man with a lute, singing and playing the instrument in front of a lit candle. Steen was known for his genre paintings that often depicted everyday life, including musical performances. This painting is a quintessential example of his style, which blended humor and realism to capture the essence of Dutch life. The painting's intimate scale and focus on a single figure create a sense of closeness and immediacy, drawing the viewer into the singer's world. The interplay of light and shadow and the use of rich, warm colors further enhance the painting's visual impact.