Who painted “Enough is enough” – proverb illustation?

“Enough is enough” – proverb illustation was painted by Adriaen van de Venne in 1635.

Where can I see “Enough is enough” – proverb illustation?

“Enough is enough” – proverb illustation is held by National Museum in Warsaw.

What movement is “Enough is enough” – proverb illustation?

“Enough is enough” – proverb illustation is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

“Enough is enough” – proverb illustation

Adriaen van de Venne , 1635

“Enough is enough” – proverb illustation is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Adriaen van de Venne. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

About this work

Overview

Adriaen van de Venne’s oil painting “Enough is enough,” created circa 1635, is part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. Executed in the Dutch Golden Age idiom, the work visualises a popular proverb through a crowded, dynamic tableau that combines figures in varied postures against a warm, golden backdrop.

Subject & Meaning

The composition gathers several individuals, some standing, others seated or reclined, in a scene that conveys tension and exasperation. A central figure clutches his head in his hands, while another appears to be descending or being dragged down, suggesting a collective sense of frustration that aligns with the proverb’s warning against excess.

Technique & Style

Van de Venne employs chiaroscuro to heighten the contrast between illuminated forms and shadowed spaces, lending depth and emotional intensity to the figures. The warm, golden background unifies the group while accentuating the dramatic gestures, a hallmark of the artist’s allegorical and satirical visual language.

History & Provenance

Painted around 1635, the work reflects van de Venne’s prolific output as a designer of political satire and book illustration. It entered the National Museum in Warsaw’s holdings in the twentieth century, where it remains on display as an example of his allegorical practice.

Context

During the Dutch Golden Age, van de Venne was known for integrating moralizing proverbs into genre scenes. “Enough is enough” continues this tradition, using a crowded, expressive group to comment on social behavior, a technique that resonated with contemporary audiences familiar with visual allegories and satirical commentary.

Artist & collection

Artist

Adriaen van de Venne

Adriaen Pietersz van de Venne (1589 – 12 November 1662), was a versatile Dutch Golden Age painter of allegories, genre subjects, and portraits, as well as a miniaturist, book illustrator, designer of political satires, and versifier.