The Point-Counterpoint of Jan Steen

During the 17th century, Dutch musical style word picture flourished, large-hearted to middle class patrons by portraying everyday demeanor with charm and often a moral. Jan Steen was among the most successful genre painters, weaving witty description into his pictures of merriment. Rhetoricians at a Window, c. 1661-1666 (oil on canvas, 29 7/8 x 23 1/16 inches) allots as an exemplar, depicting a naturalistic perspective combined with layers of meaning. Even the surname may be discover on many levels. vertical as a speechifier may refer to an silver-tongued speaker, so, too, may it allude to a pompous or turgid person. Rhetorician also conjures up the notion of rhetoric, or the process of making a telling argument based on a point and differ structure. This painting cleverly provides several(prenominal) layers of point-counterpoint arguments revealed through visual analysis, certain reading of physiognomy of the figures, and assessing the physical composition as a w hole, including how it engages the viewer.\nVisually, Steen presents a naturalistic scene discipline in a tavern or inn, believable in its details. Four prominent figures ar easily readable, not cartoonish or types, but portrayed with individualistic features. Two more wispy figures emerge from the background. The four figures up front are border in a windowpane that fills the upper 2/3 of the painting, pushed forward in shallow space to the picture plane. The side is identifiable as a public place where soak up is served by the prominent, diamond-shaped sign, nailed to the window figure of speech just off center, wall hanging in the lower trio of the painting. The sign features crossed swords, mutual symbols for power, protection, justice, courage, and strength. Here, the crossed swords also serve as an apt emblem for the crossed arguments of the point and counterpoint of rhetoric. Across the top of the painting is a swag of grapevine, with a thud of grapes just rip e(p) of center and another bunch on the far left, as the vine tumbles down the left ...