Joachim Wtewael

Trader, enthusiast, and certainly a painter himself: Joachim Wtewael was at the center of the art world of his time. And that world was certainly not limited to the Netherlands; Joachim Wtewael was familiar with Italy, France, Flanders... His interests were as diverse as the art world itself. He truly understood the enjoyment of art, or as you might say, the fun part of art.

The life of Joachim Wtewael

Joachim Wtewael was born in 1566 in Utrecht. The spelling of the Dutch language was far from standardized at the time, as evidenced by his peculiar last name. The "W" should actually be read as a "double u", so it reads "Uutewaal." Whether he pronounced it with a "uu" himself is not certain; he might have said "Uitewaal" or something similar. Spellings like Utewael and Uytewael are also found in historical sources.

In his birth year, Utrecht was hit by the iconoclastic riots, and during his youth, Protestantism gained dominance in his city. Joachim Wtewael himself was Protestant, but he had a strong interest in the rich art of Southern Europe, which led him to Italy in 1586 when he was twenty years old. There, he found much inspiration, and two years later, he worked in France.

Endowed with extensive knowledge of international arts, Joachim Wtewael returned to Utrecht in 1591. He could clearly distinguish himself as a painter due to his superior technical skills compared to many of his contemporaries. His choice of sexually suggestive subjects often made him controversial. Likely, he couldn't make a living solely from his art. However, he was also successful as an art dealer.

Towards the end of his life, Joachim Wtewael belonged to** the elite of Utrecht**. He was influential and prosperous, reaching the relatively old age of 72.

Works of Joachim Wtewael

Like his Italian models, Joachim Wtewael drew strong inspiration from antiquity and the Bible. Much of his work consists of historical pieces. Additionally, Wtewael created genre paintings that often featured explicit sexual content. By wrapping these images in a moralistic narrative, he preempted his critics. There was certainly a market for such paintings, and in that regard, people have not changed much over time.

With his symbolism and moralistic winks, Joachim Wtewael could not only afford artistic freedom but also inject subtle social commentary into his art. Joachim Wtewael lived in a time of great change, and he belonged to the elite that advocated for these changes.

Joachim Wtewael & the fun part of art

In the virtual museum of the fun part of art, Bas Zevenbergen shows you how old paintings can provide us with a surprisingly modern perspective on the society of the 16th and 17th centuries. The work of Joachim Wtewael also finds its place in this museum. Join us and discover the humor, irony, and sharp insights of the old masters about people of all times.