A Smithy 1658 - 1806

"A Smithy" is an oil painting by Dutch Golden Age artist Godfried Schalcken. The painting, housed at the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, captures the scene of a blacksmith at work, illuminated by the flickering light of a forge. The small scale and intimate focus on the subject are characteristic of Schalcken's style, known for its mastery of chiaroscuro, creating dramatic contrasts of light and shadow. The scene depicts a blacksmith tending to a forge, while a family observes from the background. This intimate glimpse into everyday life of the 17th century Netherlands makes "A Smithy" a captivating example of Dutch genre painting.