Amnon and Tamar 1670

Editor: Here we have Jan Steen's "Amnon and Tamar," created around 1670 with oil paint. My first impression is...intense. There’s this incredible theatricality, and the tension is almost palpable. What catches your eye most about this piece? Curator: Well, besides the rather lurid details, I’m immediately drawn into the storytelling. Jan Steen, with a wink and a nod, always gives us more than meets the eye. It’s from the Old Testament - a tale of royal dysfunction and really bad decisions. You almost want to shout, "Don’t do it!" at Tamar. Do you find it overly dramatic? Editor: Absolutely, but that heightened drama is so characteristic of Baroque painting, right? I also see that Steen was known for genre painting, so to use that in the biblical setting seems…unexpected, but adds to the chaos of the scene. What are your thoughts about that dynamic? Curator: Exactly. And Steen revels in it! It is like the heavy stage curtains about to fall after the final act of the drama. Notice how Tamar, despite her distress, is beautifully lit? It gives us a moment to see her agency as the narrative unfolds, her bravery is present within the tragedy. This to me gives depth to an otherwise terrible painting, maybe something to hold onto? Editor: So, Steen layers everyday life with the monumental, almost asking us to reconsider our moral judgments. Curator: Precisely. What lessons can be gained by turning a critical gaze back at our present, messy selves? Editor: I never would have pieced that together from simply looking. I leave this conversation with a renewed sense of perspective when standing in front of old art. Thank you! Curator: And thank *you* for lending me *your* eyes to see it all again!