Caption

The Choice Between Youth and Wealth, Jan Steen 1626–1679, oil painting, 1661–1663. Subject: mismatched couple; genre scene in an interior with costumes and theater stylizations; includes landscapes and men's costumes. Dimensions: painting 63.5 × 51.5 cm; with frame 84 × 70 cm., A dimly lit interior scene shows a group of people gathered near a window, with warm brown and ochre tones dominating the room and touches of white, gray, black, and muted red. A few wooden furniture pieces are visible, including a large dark wooden cupboard or bed in the background and a wooden table with a small open chest on it. A seated woman wearing a white head covering, a pale top with a pink bow at the neck, and a brown skirt occupies the center; she holds a small flute-like object and has a pale face and neutral expression. A man in a dark brown coat and hat leans in toward her from the left, gesturing with his hands; he has a beard and wears muted gray and brown clothing. Another man sits on a wooden chair at the right, wearing a dark vest, white collar, and gray breeches with a ribbon at the knee, looking toward the woman. On the wall behind them hangs a framed scene and a hanging object, and a circular lamp or chandelier is suspended from the ceiling. Through the window or open doorway at the right, an older figure in a white head covering and reddish clothing is visible outside near a building, and the floor shows scattered leaves or debris.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A16_292

License type

Rights managed

Available size

80.1Mb (3.0Mb) / 15.6in x 20.0in / 4669 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Choice Youth Wealth Jan Steen 1626–1679 oil painting 1661–1663 Subject mismatched couple genre scene interior costumes theater stylizations includes landscapes men's costumes Dimensions painting frame dimly lit interior scene group people gathered near window warm brown ochre tones dominating room touches white gray black muted red wooden furniture pieces visible large dark wooden cupboard bed background wooden table small open chest seated woman wearing white head covering pale top pink bow neck brown skirt occupies center holds small flute- object pale face neutral expression man dark brown coat hat leans left gesturing hands beard wears muted brown clothing Another man sits wooden chair right wearing dark vest white collar gray breeches ribbon knee looking woman wall them hangs framed scene hanging object circular lamp chandelier suspended ceiling open doorway older figure reddish clothing visible outside near building floor scattered leaves debris.