Videos of Jan Miense Molenaer
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Jan Miense Molenaer is one of the names that will always be associated with Dutch genre painting. He is considered one of the pioneers of this art form. At the fun part of art, we are enthusiasts of genre paintings, so we cannot overlook Jan Miense Molenaer (and we don't want to). In our virtual museum, Bas Zevenbergen tells us what these fascinating paintings teach us about the society of then and now.
Jan Miense Molenaer was born in 1610 in the city of Haarlem, known for its reputation as a hub of the arts. With this established reputation, Jan Miense Molenaer could comfortably move to Amsterdam without any qualms. In 1636, he settled there with his wife.
His wife was Judith Leyster, the only female member of the Haarlem painters' guild. In the 17th century, there were very few female artists. Although the Dutch Republic was relatively progressive in this regard, with Dutch women known for their independence and assertiveness, it was still challenging for Leyster. It wasn't due to a lack of talent—she could actually paint better than her husband. A painting couple, especially during a time when women had a harder time selling their work than men, raises questions about whether some of the paintings attributed to Jan Miense Molenaer might actually be the work of Judith Leyster. Why not? It's certainly possible, but proving it today is a challenge. Nevertheless, it adds an extra layer of complexity to Molenaer's work. At the very least, his wife likely had some influence!
In 1659, Jan Miense Molenaer and his wife both fell ill and sensed their impending demise. They drew up their wills. Judith Leyster indeed passed away, but Jan Miense Molenaer lived on for nine more years as a widower, eventually dying in 1668.
The rise of genre painting is closely associated with Jan Miense Molenaer. He was one of the first painters to specialize in these small genre scenes. The fact that painters could specialize in a particular subject and make a living from it is a peculiarity of Dutch painting in the Golden Age. It shows that painters gained significant artistic freedom and shaped the dynamics of the art market themselves. You could say that it was the painters themselves who set the fashion. This was quite different from the Middle Ages when the church was the primary patron of the arts.
Jan Miense Molenaer was a creative painter with a sense of composition and a keen eye for unconventional subjects. He continually innovated genre painting. At the same time, it must be acknowledged that he was not an exceptional technical talent; he was overshadowed in this regard by his contemporaries and even by his wife.
The genre painting of the Golden Age allows us to explore a world of stories. It is thanks in part to the efforts of Jan Miense Molenaer that this art form is so incredibly versatile. It's delightful to experience history up close through the eyes of him and other old masters. That is the fun part of art. Watch the videos in our online museum and see for yourself how enjoyable painting can be.