The Point-Counterpoint of Jan Steen

During the 17th century, Dutch genre motion picture flourished, harmonic to middle class patrons by portraiture everyday deportment with charm and often a moral. Jan Steen was among the most successful genre painters, weaving witty rendering into his pictures of merriment. Rhetoricians at a Window, c. 1661-1666 (oil on canvas, 29 7/8 x 23 1/16 inches) dish ups as an exemplar, depicting a naturalistic injection combined with layers of meaning. Even the denomination may be get a line on many levels. on the nose as a orator may refer to an articulate speaker, so, too, may it allude to a pompous or expectant person. Rhetorician also conjures up the notion of rhetoric, or the phone number of making a glib-tongued argument based on a point and contrast structure. This painting cleverly provides several(prenominal) layers of point- differ arguments revealed through visual analysis, calculated reading of physiognomy of the figures, and assessing the spell as a whole, inclu ding how it engages the viewer. \nVisually, Steen presents a naturalistic scene roach in a tavern or inn, believable in its details. Four prominent figures ar easily readable, not cartoonish or types, but portrayed with individual features. Two more fainthearted figures emerge from the background. The four figures up front are shed in a windowpane that fills the upper 2/3 of the painting, pushed forward in modify space to the picture plane. The perspective is identifiable as a public place where make merry is served by the prominent, diamond-shaped sign, nailed to the window frame just off center, suspension in the lower trio of the painting. The sign features crossed swords, commonalty symbols for power, protection, justice, courage, and strength. Here, the crossed swords also serve as an apt parable for the crossed arguments of the point and counterpoint of rhetoric. Across the top of the painting is a swag of grapevine, with a passel of grapes just ripe of center a nd another bunch on the far left, as the vine tumbles down the left ...