Where can I see Man playing the cithern and a young woman in an interior?

Man playing the cithern and a young woman in an interior is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Man playing the cithern and a young woman in an interior?

Man playing the cithern and a young woman in an interior is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Man playing the cithern and a young woman in an interior

Man playing the cithern and a young woman in an interior is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Ochtervelt. It dates from 1669 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a domestic scene of a man playing a cithern (a stringed musical instrument) while a young woman listens attentively in an interior setting.

The painting depicts a domestic scene of a man playing a cithern (a stringed musical instrument) while a young woman listens attentively in an interior setting. This composition aligns with Dutch genre art of the 17th century, where everyday life and social interactions are central themes. The presence of music often symbolizes harmony, courtship, or the fleeting nature of pleasure in Baroque art.

The woman’s poised demeanor and the man’s engagement with the instrument suggest a moment of shared intimacy or artistic appreciation. While the exact narrative remains open to interpretation, the work likely represents the ideals of companionship, refinement, and the cultural value placed on music and domestic virtue during the period.

Technique & Style

Created in 1669, this work by Jacob Ochtervelt is executed in oil paint on canvas. The painting measures 51.5 cm in height and 40.5 cm in width. Stylistically, the piece is classified as both a portrait and a genre scene, depicting a man playing a cittern alongside a young woman within an interior setting. The composition reflects the artist's engagement with domestic subjects typical of the period.

History & Provenance

The painting was created in 1669 by Jacob Ochtervelt as an oil on canvas portrait. It entered the collection of the Kunsthalle Bremen and remains there today. The work was included in the exhibition "Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting. Inspiration and Rivalry."

The provenance indicates ownership by the Hermitage Museum and Kunsthalle Bremen, confirming its current location at the Kunsthalle Bremen.

Legacy

The painting’s legacy is anchored in its inclusion in the exhibition "Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting. Inspiration and Rivalry," where it was presented alongside works that highlight Jacob Ochtervelt’s role within Dutch genre painting. Its presence in the Hermitage Museum’s collection and at the Kunsthalle Bremen has reinforced scholarly attention to Ochtervelt’s contribution to 17th‑century portraiture and interior scenes.

Overview

Jacob Ochterveld’s 1669 oil painting, titled Man Playing the Cithern and a Young Woman in an Interior, presents a quiet domestic scene. The work is part of the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and exemplifies the Dutch genre tradition of the mid‑seventeenth century.