Who painted Blowing Bubbles?

Blowing Bubbles was painted by Adriaen van der Werff in 1711.

Where can I see Blowing Bubbles?

Blowing Bubbles is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Blowing Bubbles?

Blowing Bubbles is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Blowing Bubbles?

Museum-quality prints of Blowing Bubbles are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Blowing Bubbles

Adriaen van der Werff , 1711

Blowing Bubbles is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Adriaen van der Werff. It dates from 1711 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

It belongs to the genre of genre scenes and is part of the collections of the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum, having been owned by Adriaan van der Hoop.

The painting depicts a young boy engaged in the act of blowing soap bubbles, a motif that symbolizes the fleeting nature of life and the transience of worldly pleasures. This subject aligns with genre scenes of everyday activities imbued with moral or philosophical undertones, reflecting themes of impermanence and contemplation often found in 18th‑century Dutch art.

The work is attributed to Adriaen van der Werff and was created in 1711 using oil paint on panel, measuring 40.5 cm in height and 33 cm in width. It belongs to the genre of genre scenes and is part of the collections of the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum, having been owned by Adriaan van der Hoop.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on a panel in 1711, the work employs fine, smooth brushwork to render the translucent spheres and delicate reflections of light on their surfaces. The composition is organized around a softly lit interior space, where the central figure’s gentle exhalation animates the bubbles, their forms echoing the rounded contours of the adjacent fruit and drapery folds. Handling is restrained yet precise, with careful glazes used to model the child’s face and the reflective highlights on the glass bubbles, while the background remains softly atmospheric.

The wooden support shows stable craquelure typical of aged oak panels, with no structural damage reported in conservation records.

History & Provenance

The painting Blowing Bubbles was created in 1711 by Adriaen van der Werff, executed in oil on panel. It measures 40.5 cm in height and 33 cm in width. The work entered the collection of Adriaan van der Hoop, a significant private collector of the period.

Following van der Hoop's ownership, the painting became part of the collection Adriaan van der Hoop, which was subsequently acquired by the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum, where it is currently held.

Overview

Adriaen van der Werff's 1711 painting 'Blowing Bubbles' is a genre scene executed in oil paint. It is characteristic of the Rococo style and is now part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.